It is possible for a good Republican presidential candidate to carry the state. But both NY and IL have state parties that are so utterly corrupt and worthless that they can’t produce a decent candidate.
Many Pubs used to be to the left of many Dems, and I think that it is arguable that Illinois is the one state where no switch ever fully took place.
Even in the south, one has the poor dems, the redneck pubs, and the more or less elite—with the result that one has gone from corrupt Dems ruling to the RINOs being in charge—and the new boss is pretty well the same as the old boss.
New York Republicans = moderate Democrats anywhere else, even if they get the “Comservative Party” endorsement. There is no difference between most NY Republicans and a Palm Beach County Bocacrat Democrat.