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.