As a Pennsylvanian, it’s enjoyable to matter politically for the first time in memory. And I’ve enjoyed the media’s attempts to analyze and understand our state. I thought this article in today’s Inquirer was spot-on:
By Tom Infield
Inquirer Staff WriterPITTSBURGH – Steelers or Eagles? Pro-football loyalties are not the only differences that divide Pennsylvania’s two big cities.
In Democratic politics, the contrasts between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are so sharp that they might decide the outcome of the state’s presidential primary April 22.The Pittsburgh area, according to polls and politicos-in-the-know, is Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton territory.
The Philadelphia area is the Keystone State’s biggest stronghold for Sen. Barack Obama.
The differences that 300 miles can make stem mainly from one thing: demographics.
“Look at who Barack Obama appeals to,” said John Brabender, a Republican consultant from Pittsburgh who is tracking the Democratic race from the sidelines.
Brabender ticked off the list: younger voters, better-educated voters, more-affluent voters – and black voters.
Percentage-wise, Philadelphia has more of all of these.
Neither of the state’s big metropolitan areas – Philadelphia ranks fourth nationally; Pittsburgh, 21st – is anywhere near the most youthful, the trendiest, or the fastest-growing.
But compared at least with Pittsburgh, the Philadelphia area, including its four suburban counties, is young and booming.
Basically, Pittsburgh belongs to Clinton, Philly belongs to Obama, and in-between belongs to Col. Sanders. (You know, the old Pennsyl-tucky joke).
(Penn State is clearly Obama country, as he drew 22,000 people to Old Main Lawn a couple weeks ago. This was perhaps the biggest rally so far in his campaign).
“A bunch of pointy-headed liberals – that’s how Philadelphia looks to the rest of the state,” said Bill Green, a Pittsburgh-area consultant who had worked with both major parties.
“They see Philadelphia as an elitist, white-collar kind of place,” Green said.
This is hilarious. Hasn’t anyone seen Rocky? Heard of the 700 level? Ordered in English at Geno’s? Met all my old South Philly neighbors named Tony? I guess wanting less guns on the street makes you a “pointy-headed liberal.” (What does that mean anyway–a Conehead?)
Philadelphians wear less black Nikes, black jeans, and less black and gold in general. Perhaps that is “elitist.”
“Some people say Pittsburgh is more Midwest whereas Philadelphia is more East Coast,” he said. “. . . The experiences of the two areas are different.”
I couldn’t agree more. I’ve been arguing this for a decade. Once you get past Downingtown on the PA Turnpike, you are out of the East Coast and into a transition zone. Once you get past Harrisburg, it’s safe to say you are functionally in the midwest. Agree/Disagree?
Pennsylvania is at least two states, maybe more if you count the Dunder-Mifflinites in the northeast, when it comes to interacting with the world. One of the things that makes Penn State such a fascinating place is that it brings together the Blue state/Red state cultures within the state, plus international students from all over the world, to create a fairly diverse Global University in the middle of nowhere.
Here’s the link to the whole article.
