Why did Mondale do so (comparatively) well in Tennessee?

[ElectionsGuy]

Reagan barely won Shelby and Davidson counties (50-49 and 52-47) and Reagan did poor in many of the rural baptist areas in western Tennessee. Of course he nailed down eastern Tennessee, but I'm guessing back then western Tennessee made up a bigger size of the population than now.

[ElectionsGuy]

Mondale probably did somewhat decent in Tennesse due to residual support from Blue Dog Democrats and reverse coattails from Al Gore's successful Senate bid. What surprises me is how Reagan only recieved 70% of the vote in Sevier County, which previously gave Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon 85% of the vote.

Its fascinating watching the rural white democratic counties disappear and the massive republican trend over the years.

1980:



Reagan: 48.7%
Carter: 48.4%

1984:



Reagan: 57.8%
Mondale: 41.6%

1988:



Bush: 57.9%
Dukakis: 41.5%

1992:





Clinton: 47.1%
Bush: 42.4%

1996:



Clinton: 48.0%
Dole: 45.6%

2000:



Bush: 51.1%
Gore: 47.3%

2004:



Bush: 56.8%
Kerry: 42.5%

2008:



McCain: 56.9%
Obama: 41.8%

2012:



Romney: 59.5%
Obama: 39.1%