It's called tyranny of the masses. The founders were worried about factions such as a political party who might choose their interests over the interests of the country. The electoral college was one way to ensure minority rights would not be trampled. Hamilton wrote the Constitution was written to be certain "that the office of President will never fall to the lot of any man who is not in an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications." How could he foresee the disaster that is the modern Republican Party?