Yeah, the top 12 would get you to 283. (13+14+15+16+16+18+20+20+29+29+38+55 = 283 ==VA, NJ, NC, GA, Mich, OH,IL,PA,NY,FL, TX,CA)
Of course the reverse is true, you could (in theory) win the electoral college with <25% of the vote if you hit the right states - every one from NJ and VA and below.
RE: Campaigning for the Popular Vote is much easier & different than campaigning for the Electoral College. It's like training for the 100 yard dash vs. a marathon. The brilliance of the Electoral College is that you must go to many States to win. With t...