Republicans in Philadelphia?!?!

[Sol]

There are republicans in NYC besides Staten Island. On the federal level, Boro Park votes GOP by outrageous numbers due to the large Hasidic population, but that advantage is recent, is not true on the local level, and can go in the exact opposite way. Gravesend, Brighton Beach, and other segments of Southern/Southwestern Brooklyn vote GOP also, but in a less capricious manner and for more diverse reasons- Gravesend has a lot of Orthodox folks, Brighton Beach is more conservative, secular Russian folks who are very often Jewish, etc.

Queens has GOP areas also, and these, although smaller, are more reliable for the GOP. The only NYC city council seat outside Staten Island held by a pubbie is here. Most of the Republican voting here is a combination of Italian Olds+ Hasidim. 

There are GOP areas in most Northeastern cities on the Federal level. Of course, Philly has the most of any of them, but even Boston has a McCain precinct in Southie.

I suspect some of the GOP strength in Philly has to do with the city's historical Republican machine.