Just spent two weeks visiting family and friends in the Illinois/Michigan area. I can't say that the outlook there is very bright--the Republicans are very strong and I heard very little about electric cars, solar panels, or even global warming. One little bright spot was the following cartoon published August 30 in the Peoria Journal Star, a solid Republican newspaper:
I also learned that the Planetarium director in Peoria is also the Green Party candidate for Congress running against very powerful, and sure-to-win, Republican Aaron Schock. Still, it's good to know someone is willing to stand up for science (speaking as a former lecturer at Peoria's Lakeview Center Planetarium).
