Cook County and the collar counties around it, plus metro Springield and Peoria, went for Romney, often by a 10+ percentage point spread. These counties have produced such Congressional representatives as Henry Hyde, Don Rumsfeld, and Phil Crane, a more conservative crew than the New York and Philadelphia suburban RINOs. Hillary Clinton grew up in the Chicago suburbs; she was a Goldwater supporter, like her father, until her liberal Methodist church and the Ivy League turned her mind to Marxist mush. Wheaton College, the cademically strongest university among evangelicals, is located in the Chicago suburbs.
Romney appears to be winning the higher income and economically conservative voters. Santorum is strongest among small town and lower income social conservatives, especially evangelicals. Gingrich's numbers have sunk below those of Ron Paul, the 2012 equivalent of Harold Stassen.
Recently, Politico speculated that both Gingrich and Paul are "in the tank" for Romney. I suspect their egos rather than conspiracy are the culprit. Paul holds his rallies on college campuses, where they are very well attended. His ego is fueled by the big rallies, which results in him getting 10-20% of the vote in counties with big colleges, e.g., Champaign County. Gingrich gets high on being back in the national spotlight for the first time in over a decade and lobbing shots at Obama when he attacked Gingrich's energy program.
If there is to be hope for a more conservative candidate than Romney, Santorum, for all his flaws, is the man.
Your ideas are confusing as some of these others. Politico (very trustworthy, ok) ..now Newt is in the tank for Romney hahaha..I’ve heard it all now..Newt Gingrich is a leader. The only reason Santos is not winning a majority is because 1) the historical low voter turnout in many states and 2) More conservatives do not want him and his ideas of a overreaching government intrusion in power. 3) Newt stayed out of Il-and Rick still could not shut down Mitt. When will his steam roll over Romney? Or is the plan to shut Newt all of the way down. Look at the Christian Right; what they have caused and they bicker back n forth. Not about saving the country, no. It is all about personal ideas of how a man wants the country to be. Also for the country to not be familiar that he was a part of the Bush regime who failed the country terribly. We gave them our trust and they ran the financial system aground. Those were kicked out, to where we got Obama in. Rick was part of the spending and increasing government- you think a conservative like me will walk the block for him and ring door bells. My country’s business and security comes first, my faith is my business (not Ricks) Those ministers should know the nation’s security and country’s finances come first.
Are they so blinded that are on some kind of crusade. They need to re think the priorities. Someone with some weight needs to reason with them. Romney passed laws for abortions and gave his state the gay marriage agenda into law. More people are moving to Romney’s column, don’t they see this.
Rick has caused us to not have a debate on issues for reform-we have social issues running to the ballot box which we get us creamed in the fall election. No debate on getting off of foreign oil-no talk of getting out of these hostile countries who are killing our soldiers-no tax reform discussions- no 15 % flat tax which would make businesses grow-nothing-no talk about revamp VA for our service people and ending the 57 layers of government. What is your candidate carrying the banner for- worrying about porn and if Rick not knowing how to explain what he means of many issues. Who is the most experienced / Mitt Romney or Rick Santorum. Everyone knows that Newt is the smart guy who has solutions. Those of us who admire Newt, do see what America needs and isn’t those amateurs. We are trying to direct your confusion. Those ministers got a alert call last night as they did in MI OH, now IL-Rick Santorum cannot beat Romney one on one.