[thebooktocome]

100 years ago, the Dems were still the party of southern pride. I think the shift is about more than "economic anxiety"

Also, West Virginia isn't all of Appalachia. SE Ohio, rural Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina are coal producing regions that are also very conservative.

[ZoeZoeBee]

Except that has nothing to do with why they voted as they did going back to before the 20th century as rural America has never been about today's Democratic ideals. The Miners and their Unions have been supportive of Democrats since before FDR.

Edit could the downvoter parked here show their face, literally five seconds after posting and you're downvoting have to assume you've gone down the thread downvoting everything, so just say hi