[cripplecreek]

Even blue states like Illinois, California and New York are rural-red outside of their blue urban cores.

Very true in all but the smallest of "blue" states. Here in Michigan, less than 10 of our 83 counties are dependable democrat voting counties and only a handfull more waver back and forth.

[CPO retired]

Parts of Southern California are very “blue”. There is currently another secession attempt for the more conservative counties in SoCal. It won’t succeed, but it makes a point.