CHICAGO (AP) - President Barack Obama has claimed another victory in his home state of Illinois.

The Associated Press called Obama’s victory based on exit polling shortly after polls closed Tuesday.

His win comes as no surprise. Republican Mitt Romney mounted only a token campaign in the state, and much of Obama’s Illinois operation was geared to recruiting volunteers to help in other states.

Still, there were questions about how much enthusiasm for Obama had waned as the nation’s economic problems lingered.

The Chicago resident’s appearance on the ballot was expected to affect Democrats in key congressional races around Illinois.