Yea, Al's on the right track. Arkansas whites are no more or less racist than whites in other similar parts of the south.
If Obama had spent a crap load of money in Arkansas like he did in North Carolina and Virginia and to some extent Georgia he probably could've done a lot better. He chose not to, and thus did not do well there.
The Clintons being from there also probably cost him a 1-2% personal vote.
Hmm no. What you and Al are not looking at is how the white voters in NC and AR vote in elections. Lets take 2004 vs 2008..
AR: 2004: 63-36 vs. 2008: 68-30.
Then look at NC.
NC: 2004: 73-27 vs. 2008: 64-35
... which is completely ignorant of the growth in the Research Triangle, what the white vote is outside of that area, the amount of money Obama spent in various media markets, the personal Clinton vote, and so many other things.