The Electoral College was created for two reasons. The first purpose was to create a buffer between population and the selection of a President. The second as part of the structure of the government that gave extra power to the smaller states, which today isn't a valid reason to keep the college.
The first reason that the founders created the Electoral College is, they were afraid of direct election to the Presidency. They feared a tyrant could manipulate public opinion and come to power since the population was mainly easterly the college helped centralize the voters in the western states. Today we need to abolish the college so that the people control who gets into office.