Name Two States That a Very Similar Politically...

[12th Doctor]

but are not next to each other.



I vote PA and Michigan.

[12th Doctor]

To elaborate...

They are close to each other, population wise.  They both have large Metro areas of over 2,000,000 that play a heavy role in state politics (and are both located in the Southeast corner of the state).  The Upper Penninsula is quite similar to Southwestern PA and the Coal Belt.  The rest of the both states are made up of medium and small sized cities that lean Republican and the rural areas of the lower Pennisula are very much like those in Central PA.

The only major difference is that Michigan lacks a smaller, large metro area to offset Detriot.  Thus, Michigan is a little more Liberal friendly.

[12th Doctor]

Illinois and Washington.

West Virginia and Missouri.

Alabama and Oklahoma.

(Aren't PA and MI next to each other? There's only a lake between them...))

1)  How are Illinois and Washington anything alike?

2)  PA and Michigan don't touch.

[12th Doctor]

The Upper Penninsula is quite similar to Southwestern PA and the Coal Belt.

False

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You could argue the Grand Rapids area, which is heavily conservative and surrounded by significant cities (Holland, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, etc.)

I do not agree with your assessment.

@RJ: The lake is between Ontario and Pennsylvania, not Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Could you add a little more than that?

[12th Doctor]

The Upper Penninsula is quite similar to Southwestern PA and the Coal Belt.

False

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You could argue the Grand Rapids area, which is heavily conservative and surrounded by significant cities (Holland, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, etc.)

I do not agree with your assessment.

@RJ: The lake is between Ontario and Pennsylvania, not Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Could you add a little more than that?

The UP is essentially what you would imagine rural Canada to be - liberal, but not beyond normal bounds. Most areas vote Republican due to economic libertarianism. It is very hands-off, and I wouldn't describe it as even leaning socially conservative. A much better example would be northern Minnesota/Duluth (though I can't say I've ever been there).

Interesting.  I was wrong then, it seems.  What is the Northern Lower Pennisula like?