What's with Williams county, Ohio? It's a standard rural county isn't it?
North Carolina still confuses me, it's the exception big time. You can't attribute Obama's strength there to ONLY metropolitan areas and higher black turnout like you can in Virginia. Well maybe you can, but he at least held his own with previous candidates in the other areas. Basically what I'm saying is:
Obviously the fact that Obama at least spent money in NC is one factor but still.
You really can't compare NC and TN trends. Most importantly, NC has blacks in most of the state. TN pretty much only has them in urban areas and the extreme SW. Also, rural Dems in TN are WV-style. Both parts of the Tennessee River valley are old New Deal TVA counties. Obama really did not fit the style in these areas. Also, NC is a huge banking state. Think Wachovia. Banking is in a lot of trouble right now. Tennessee's economy is more focused on healthcare and distribution, which isn't in as much trouble.
