Despite "Shock Poll," Obama Won't Lose Illinois

By aaroncynic in News on Aug 21, 2012 2:00PM

The Daily Caller released “shocking” information about a recent poll of Illinois voters which said that the President could lose his home state and showed Republican contender Mitt Romney leading in suburban areas. The poll, conducted by political strategist Michael McKeon, found that Obama leads Romney in Cook County 49 percent to 37 percent which, according to the conservative news website “puts him ahead by a far thinner margin than expected in a county he should be winning handsomely.”

Additionally, McKeon's poll of 629 registered voters, of which no details are available, shows Romney leading 45 to 38 in suburban areas.

It's highly doubtful right now however, that Illinois will turn red in November. A recent poll by Tony Preckwinkle's campaign showed the President still has a high job approval rating (h/t Captiol Fax) in Cook County, and even the ultra conservative Breitbart website isn't too impressed:

In 2008, Obama took over 80% of the vote in the city. In Cook County overall, he took 76% of the vote. While Obama's numbers this year won't come close to the '08 numbers, it's hard to believe that his support has dropped that much.

While Cook County is the most populous in the state, Obama also took all of the collar counties in 2008, along with most in the northern and western parts of Illinois, and even some in the traditionally deep red parts of southern Illinois, something Republicans might want to remember before declaring victory.