RE: “I hope he will pronounce it like we do in the west....the a is like AT, not like AHH. Why do so many national figures have trouble with this. After all, most have now gotten that it is Illinois...not noise.”
We have the same problem. They pronounce Maryland as Mare-eh-land when it should be pronounce Murland. Not to mention Baltimore, which should be pronounced Baltimordor.
Nobody who’s not a native ever pronounces things the way natives do. Do you really think “New York” is pronounced that way? Try N’Yawk.
But a non-native would look like a fool for trying that.
Baltimordor! Love it!