Why is PA a blue state?

[cfr]

Possibly moving there soon from AZ as my wife has family there. I grew up in the Peoples Republik of Kalifornia.

Ive heard that something like 1/3 of NRA members are in PA, but not sure thats true or not.

Ive also heard that you guys bitterly cling to your guns and religion.

All this together, it got me thinking, why are are you folks blue?

My impression is that you arent all Prius driving tree huggers that are out fighting for gay rights and sipping soy latte's while doing naked yoga like the Kalifornia libs.

My guess is that it's largely based on union support -- is that correct?

Just curious really. No desire to debate anything. Im pretty split on major political issues, so Im intrigued by this.

Thanks!

[GreenBlood10]

The Dems in Philly, outnumber everyone else.

GB

[TonyF]

And Allegheny County (Pittsburgh).

[Exbiker]

Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Scranton. Geographically red.

[Statkowski]

Voter fraud. Dems get two or more registrations/votes, everyone else gets just one.

[pacpiper]

Thank god my county went Red this time!

[FNG19]

All this together, it got me thinking, why are are you folks blue?

We're a blue state because Philafornia and Pittsachussets in the SE and SW corners of the state outnumber the parts of Alabama and Kentucky that make up the middle of the state (aka, "T-country", named for the "T" made by the vertical middle and horizontal northern half that leans Red).

[cephas]

As eluded to by previous posters : "Pennsylvania is Philadelphia in the east, Pittsburgh in the west, and Alabama in the middle. Political consultant James Carville said some version of this quip while working on Bob Casey, Sr.'s gubernatorial campaign in 1986."

[tacticalreload]

More than half the population of PA is in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh metro areas. Another one and a quarter million people live in the Allentown and Wilkes-Barre / Scranton areas. Much like the rest of the country, cities tend to be Democrat. Also, Pittsburgh has been traditionally very blue collar and pro-union... this makes it Democrat, as well.

When it comes to being pro-gun, however, it's different. There are actually a fair number of pro-gun Dems in PA... especially in the western and northeastern parts of the state. These areas, while Democrat, have a history of hunting tradition. One thing to remember, though... a lot of these people are "Fudds" who are NRA members but don't necessarily agree with non-hunting firearms or CCW.

In general, PA is a fairly gun-friendly state. It looks even more so when compared to the surrounding states on its eastern borders (NY, NJ, MD, CT, MA). Philly is pretty staunchly anti-gun and this mentality is leaching further into its suburbs all the time. Hopefully this trend doesn't continue.

[cfr]

These areas, while Democrat, have a history of hunting tradition. One thing to remember, though... a lot of these people are "Fudds" who are NRA members but don't necessarily agree with non-hunting firearms or CCW.

So hunting is OK, self defense is not. Weird.