Despite all the changes and alterations to his policies, Lincoln lost the Empire City of New York, much as he had in 1860. The twenty-two wards of greater New York City went for McClellan by 73,769 to 36,912. This may well have reflected a continuing urban bias against Lincoln, the man from the rural West; despite all his success, Lincoln was still seen as an unpolished countryperson. The blow was softened by Lincoln’s taking the Empire State by a margin of 8,000 votes.