Actually, they do not. They are down the list of targets. Why? Because they cannot survive without middle America. We saw that during Sandy when it hit the north east; within 60 hours those people were dumpster diving for food. Middle America is the target and nuclear explosions on the "ground" will take lots and lots of missiles. But an EMP could do just the trick. Cripple most of our grid's and a good chunk of how we move food and supplies around the country and those high density areas will first starve, then disease will hit then the roving gangs will mop up the rest. Those liberal "strongholds" will fail within a month, if that. I personally think in area's like that cannibalism will manifest within a handful of weeks.
Keep prepping, keeeep prepping.
I understand that shutting down 2 or 3 bridges and a highway or two would pretty much isolate DC?