I don't think anyone mentioned this yet. Here's another reason why the Northeast should arguably be more conservative than the South: the North is where the Puritans settled. The Puritans were a very religious people who wanted to turn the US into a theocratic government and were somewhat successful in doing so, hence why we have so many blue laws as remnants of their attempts. So, I'm still confused on how states with such strict laws on alcohol became the most liberal.
Yes, I realize this is the exact opposite of my original question. Still relevant, though.
A very interesting point as well.
I don't know very much about Puritan theology, but the more radical streams of Calvinism always had the potential to promote social progressive politics. Progressive, but not liberal (in the European sence).
It's like "We have to fight the Evil in this world and eliminate it, to make the world a better place" or something like that, as I said I'm not a theologian. "The Evil" may be alcohol, slavery or social injustice.
An other argument could be made that a religious tradition like Puritanism which is far less institutionalized than, let's say, Catholicism, is more susceptible to secularization. And secularization of course goes hand in hand with non-traditional political believes, be it socialism or liberalism.
