the state is not 65% DEM.
IL is actually a liberal GOP state. But since the GOP took congress in 1994 and Clinton was a successful Prez, States like IL. ME and CT have gone DEM.
What has happen in IL since 1988(last year a GOP won in IL for Prez) is this:
The City has gone from 65-35 DEM to 80-20
The Suburbs have gone from 60-40 GOP to probably 52-48 GOP with the Cook suburbs being 60-40 DEM, but Dupage, Kane McHenry are still GOP. Lake was a GOP strong hold but it now slightly DEM
IL was never a conservative state even when it was a GOP stronghold. Never had a conservative Gov, supported Ford over Reagan in 1976 primaries, Bob Michel was the epitomy of a RINO, Percy ditto, Dirksen was ok. Fitzgerald only won cuz Carol Mostly Farud was so incompetent and thought that all you had to do as Senator in IL was cater to the wishes of Cook country. She lost downstate counties like Champaign and Rock Island 3-1. She even managed to lose St. Clair County.
Downstate where the conservative base resides is losing population. Only Bloomington/Normal is growing
IL would probably vote GOP for Prez if McCain or Rudy ran.
IL could go for Rudy, but not for McCain - he's too conservative.