I'm on the Pennsyltucky side of the state line, of course, but it's the same deal here -- metro Philly and Pittsburgh are the only "blue" parts of an otherwise redder-than-red state. But since the deer and elk up this way can't vote, the Dems have something like a 600K edge in voter registration.
I've been on the BoD of the local United Fund for eight years now, so I see the applications from the various service providers we support. Some ugly numbers there... and with two factories right in town, we're actually better off than some of our neighbors. (Per capita, the poorest school district in the entire state isn't in an inner city -- it's Otto-Eldred, right next door to us.)
But hey, those new multimillion-dollar stadiums in the 'Burgh sure are swell, aren't they?
OnTheRocks: you know, I'd actually be in favor of revamping the EC from a winner-takes-all system to one that parcels out the votes by Congressional district (while leaving the two Senatorial votes to be determined statewide). At least then I wouldn't be tempted to throw things at the TV when the talking heads automatically declare PA for the Democratic candidate as soon as the polls close...