Erie County, PA

[Jordan Gwendolyn]

I'm wondering, how is this area so liberal. I mean, it was the only county W of the Susquehanna besides Allegheny that voted for Sestak, and THE ENTIRE COUNTY HAS AN LGBTIQ RIGHTS ORDINANCE. The only other COUNTYWIDE ordinances are in Allegheny and Pittsburgh.

[Keystone Phil]

I don't think it's socially liberal though I didn't know about the LGBTLMNOP ordinance. I guess the city of Erie would be the best way to explain that.

By the way, Pittsburgh isn't a county. 

[RIP Robert H Bork]

I don't think it's socially liberal though I didn't know about the LGBTLMNOP ordinance. I guess the city of Erie would be the best way to explain that.

By the way, Pittsburgh isn't a county. 

Right, I think that the OP was talking about Philadelphia (which is both the city and the county).

But also, the OP forgot another quite obvious factor--Obama won the county 59-39. McCain did better in Allegheny County! (Interestingly, though, Bush Jr. did better in Erie in 2004.)

[Jordan Gwendolyn]

I don't think it's socially liberal though I didn't know about the LGBTLMNOP ordinance. I guess the city of Erie would be the best way to explain that.

By the way, Pittsburgh isn't a county. 

Sorry, meant Philly

[Keystone Phil]

Obama won the county 59-39. McCain did better in Allegheny County! (Interestingly, though, Bush Jr. did better in Erie in 2004.)

The economy meltdown explains that one.

[minionofmidas]

...paging Soulty ... oh wait, he doesn't post here anymore...

[Linus Van Pelt]

Municipal turnout being what it is, it's often not that hard for a small group of very dedicated people to get things passed at the local level even where it isn't the most "natural" place for it in terms of the views of the population at large.

[TeePee4Prez]

Another interesting note is why such a high concentration of Tim Horton's donut shops?  This is the only area in PA that has a decent number.  Closest one to me is at a Tops Supermarket about an hour northwest of Scranton.

[muon2]

I would view Erie County in the region that wraps around Lake Erie rather than in with W PA. That places it with areas from Buffalo to Toledo that are more like Erie, PA in political behavior. It just so happens that it's the only county in PA that touches the Great Lake, so its politics stick out more than it would if it were in OH or NY.

[cinyc]

Another interesting note is why such a high concentration of Tim Horton's donut shops?  This is the only area in PA that has a decent number.  Closest one to me is at a Tops Supermarket about an hour northwest of Scranton.

Because Timmy's is a Canadian chain, Erie is closer to Canada, along the major route for Torontonians driving to Florida for the winter, and closer to Dublin, Ohio, home of Wendy's, which owned Tim Horton's for a while.

[Keystone Phil]

Another interesting note is why such a high concentration of Tim Horton's donut shops?  This is the only area in PA that has a decent number.  Closest one to me is at a Tops Supermarket about an hour northwest of Scranton.

Yeah, that's relevant. 

By the way, regarding your signature: you should see the street that one of my friends lives on around me. Besides chairs and other patio furniture, there was a kid's Big Wheel saving a spot. Now that's a first.

[TeePee4Prez]

Another interesting note is why such a high concentration of Tim Horton's donut shops?  This is the only area in PA that has a decent number.  Closest one to me is at a Tops Supermarket about an hour northwest of Scranton.

Yeah, that's relevant. 

By the way, regarding your signature: you should see the street that one of my friends lives on around me. Besides chairs and other patio furniture, there was a kid's Big Wheel saving a spot. Now that's a first.

I would love to see Tim Horton's kick/buy out Krispy Krape out of our area, but anyways...

Wow, a kid's Big Wheel is kinda funny! 

[Stranger in a strange land]

Before reading this thread, I had no idea that Tim Horton's existed in the U.S. Good to know! Unfortunately, it appears there are none close to where I live.