Cities and their politics

The Bay Area Center for Voting Research study, which I referenced in a previous post, continues to intrigue me. Is it possible to quantify whether a city is liberal or conservative?

A city's voting patterns may not reveal its true nature. Just because its residents choose Democratic or Republican candidates doesn't necessarily indicate a political leaning. Many Massachusetts cities voted for John Kerry in 2004, but their stance on liberal issues like gay marriage is more ambiguous.

The race issue is complex as well. Does a large African-American population automatically make a city more liberal? Not necessarily. There can be some significant differences of opinion within these populations, due to the roles played by income and religion.