With each passing Presidential election, Pennsylvania seems to be slipping further away. Obviously there’s something about democrats in the White House that appeals to them. Ditto for Michigan.
Philadelphia’s vote controls the state, sadly.
There are still no Obama signs around here, Romney/Ryan signs popping up daily, here in the Pittsburgh area.
This state has a few transplants from liberal lands, too, they really do think that even though they’re successful and wealthy, by voting for dems makes them feel good. They don’t redistribute THEIR money, mind you, but it makes them feel good to think that you’re redistributing yours.
I think the problems in PA are:
1) Philly
2) Increasing numbers of refugees from NY, NJ and MD who bring their liberal voting patterns with them.
3) Blue collar types in Western PA who are culturally conservative but have bought into the mantra that their jobs depend on keeping Democrats in power (the Murtha effect).
4) The absolute failure of the Catholic Church to drive home how it will be game over for religious freedom if he gets a second term.
That being said it is hard to find any evidence around here of Obama being popular.
Michigan always has had a big labor contingent. I think Penn has too. Michigan maybe getting more conservative. Some of the parasite class are going to leave as the gravy train is finally coming to an end. "Upstate" (everything outside Detroit area) and the Suburbs have finally decided to stop the subsidies to Detroit. That means more departing residents (most return to family areas in the South in my experience) who are part of the 95% Obama supporting voting block.
Benton Harbor (a majority minority city) is already under an appointed overseer's control. Detroit will be soon. That means the end of fake jobs and union contracts and the rest. When the gravey train ends a lot of people will go somehwere else.