Did Appalachians vote their economic interests?

[White Trash]

The only reason that Appalachian and Southern whites are voting "against their economic interests" boils down to the fact that the Democrat's economic message is being communicated in way that doesn't necessarily peak the interest of the rural, white poor. Republicans for a long time have portrayed government programs as being a "minority thing" or an "urban thing". And for the past twenty or so years, the Democrats have really let them get away with it with only passing and half-hearted attempts to change this perception. Growing up in the rural South I can tell you that a lot of folks are on some form of government assistance, but when a politician starts talking about spending cuts most will assume that they are just cutting the programs that are used by city folk.

There needs to be a concentrated and honest effort by the Democratic Party to change the perception of government assistance in order for this phenomenon to come to an end.