why is Illinois such a heavily blue state

[Sbane]

I realize that Obama's presence on the ticket made it more dem but even in 2004 it had a PVI of D+6.4.

The reason I'm asking this is because when it comes to race, the state is almost a perfect microcosm of the country, so why isn't it a microcosm politically? It was, for the most part, a swing state for most of the 20th century. It is around 63-64 percent white with the rest being mostly black or hispanic with some asians here and there.

Although IL is a perfect microcosm of the nation racially, it doesn't have the deep south and plains/inner mountain west whites who skew the white vote so Republican nationally. Thus IL is more Democrat than the nation as a whole.

[sg0508]

The GOP was able to hang onto IL for decades because of the white, white-collar, moderate voters in the suburbs.  Bush 41 for example, killed Dukakis in the burbs and that's why he won states such as IL, PA, NJ, DE, CT, MI, etc.

As the GOP lost the burbs, they lost states like IL.

[Stranger in a strange land]

One thing that's notable about the Chicagoland area is the lack of Fundie exurbs, which most other large Midwestern cities seem to have.

[All Along The Watchtower]

One thing that's notable about the Chicagoland area is the lack of Fundie exurbs, which most other large Midwestern cities seem to have.

Wheaton?

[mileslunn]

That is easy to explain - considerably more urban than neighboring states and a larger minority population.  Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota are totally different as they are somewhat similiar to northern Illinois outside Chicago but you don't have nearly as strong and rural/urban split and likewise amongst the white vote, the Dems tend to do much better.  When compared to Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan; an easy way to look at it is remove Cook County from Illinois, leave Indiana as is, remove Cuyahoga County from Ohio, and remove Wayne County from Michigan and I suspect you would find the results are pretty close.  Likewise the only reason I think Obama does better amongst white votes in Illinois then those other three states is due his strength amongst whites in Cook County.  I suspect Romney probably got close to maybe even over 60% of whites outside Cook County whereas I suspect Obama won the white vote in Cook County by 10-15 points.  Also Illinois has the highest African-American population of any Midwestern state and its Hispanic population is substantially larger than any neighboring state.

[Paulygirl]

Cook County is very blue but the rest of the state is red. Too bad so many people live in Cook County.

[pbrower2a]

Cook County is very blue but the rest of the state is red. Too bad so many people live in Cook County.

Chicago is one of the world's greatest transportation hubs by land and water -- just look at the rail pattern going into Chicago, and consider it having the natural waterway link between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. Highways and air transportation in Chicagoland reflects the reality of a well-situated giant city. Figure that huge amounts of bulk cargo -- grain, coal, iron ore, limestone  -- go through greater Chicago. Giant industry grows where the bulk cargo is easily concentrated and easily transshipped.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Cook with the g.o.t.v effort on part of Daley clan that downstate can't match.