[andyfox]

Yes, many of the founders, who are sometimes lumped together as the "Hamiltonians" (as opposed to the "Jeffersonians") feared the mobocracy. Actually, the framers didn't give a whole lot of thought to the electoral college because they didn't foresee the executive being as important as the branch ended up in actuality. In fact, they messed up the electoral college, resulting in a tie between Thomas Jefferson and his supposed running mate Aaron Burr in 1800. The situation was rectified by the 12th amendment.

And in perhaps the greatest irony, Jefferson's great political opponent Hamilton was responsible for Jefferson bcoming president, preferring his erstwhile political opponent to the rascal Burr. Burr, as is well known, got him back for it.