having lived in KY and Ohio, no it isn't the same(although rural areas of america all the same at this point, but i only live in major cities).
Sometimes in Ohio i would vote for something, and it would actually win! That shit doesn't happen in KY even as a lowly Democrat, never mind being leftist. Ohio still has weed and abortions, it's about 10 years ahead of KY.
Most of my family is from kentucky, and they are pretty much all stupid as fuck. I have a shitload of aunts and uncles and 2 of them are Democrats. All from KY too.
(not sure what you mean by outsider though. i would guess that means you don't live in the United States but i could be wrong)
If you took the Northern chunk of IL so Chicago and Rockford were in the MN/WI/MI Republic, it would kind of make sense. Southern Illinois is basically Kentucky