[Graybeard58]

Who really cares about Illinois? Be real, if 0bama doesn’t carry it legally in the election, as one of his many homes, the dims will make sure that enough dead people show up at the polls to give it to him.

Of course it doesn't matter at general election time, it is a given that obama will win in Illinois but this is a primary election and those votes are extremely important to Gingrich, Santorum, Paul and Romney.

I wouldn't miss it for anything, it's the only time in this election when my vote will mean anything. I will not be voting for Romney or Paul or Romney.

(Yes, I know I said Romney twice, that was for emphasis!)

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Just wait till 8 to 10% Democrat crossover pranksters show up and vote for Santorum to hand the win to him. Like in both Alabama and Miss, pre election polls, Santo was behind 3 to 4 points and was shocked himself that he won.

We will see this more and more in all the “open” primaries to come. Look for Santorum’s actual numbers to be about 6 to 8% higher than predicted.

[PhilCollins]

I live near Chicago, and I know that Illinois will be a swing state, in the general election, based on the 2010 election results. In that year, Illinois elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate, to replace a retiring Democrat. In 2010, IL Republicans gained four seats, in the U.S. House. Republicans gained seats, in the state senate and state house.

[JediJones]

Illinois has the 5th most delegates of any remaining primary state. This is a BIG deal. If Romney wins it, it makes him significantly more likely to hit the magic 1,144 by June.

Illinois is the first of three DIRECT DELEGATE ELECTION primaries (which are like winner-take-all by district). Which candidate you vote for doesn't count for anything. You have to vote for the delegates directly on the ballot. The delegates are marked for which candidate they're supporting. Whichever 3 or 4 delegates in the district get the most votes are the winners. So if Romney's 3 or 4 delegates get 35% each, and no other delegates have that many votes, he wins all the district's delegates.

Sample 2012 Republican Primary Illinois Ballot

Therefore, vote-splitting is a real factor. If the delegate vote splits 34%-33%-33% and Romney gets the 34%, then he wins the delegates, the other candidates get nothing.