Just a couple of things to look for on Tuesday night as the returns pour in from Illinois.
1) Of course, everyone seems to be looking at city wards on the (predominately African-American and a few Latino) South and West Sides to see if the Bernie Sanders’ ad campaign against Mayor Rahm Emanuel will work in Sanders’ favor.
Personally, I think that will only have a limited effect.
What might be rather interesting to look at on Tuesday night are the electoral returns from Wards 44, 46, 47, and 48.
Those areas of Chicago have a significant LGBT population and IF there is any backlash against Hillary Clinton for her atrocious comments about Nancy Reagan/AIDS, that is where you would be able to see that backlash against Clinton.
Especially with the comments being so fresh in everyone’s mind.
2) Keep in mind that even prior to the March 5th Michigan primary, early voting totals in Illinois were already breaking records.
In suburban Cook County alone, 102,409 votes have already been cast and are “banked.” Early voting numbers have also been reported to be high in Chicago, proper.
Early voting in Chicago began February 29th.
3) I wonder if the Sanders campaign has been running some of the “Rahm” ads in central and southern Illinois...