Reagan's form of conservatism was not attractive to the WWC in unionised counties. His policies destroyed many working-class communities resulting in Mondale having a stronger performance in 84 amongst unionised labor in Appalachia than even Nixon in 1968. The swing was even greater in 1988, with Dukakis winning a plethora of solidly lean republican counties, that the Democrats won in 1964 but hadn't won since 1940
Also n 1968, the campaign was much more focused on white-resentment and law and order that appealed to such communities that felt an alienation to the social progressive anti-war movement, by the 1980's this had dissipated and with class, politics reigning supreme they became more democratic.
The only questions is to why the Democrats slowly lost ground amongst these voters (with lower turnout amongst Democrats in 1996, and 2000). And a continual loss in support amongst working class voters since 2000, from the Democrats under Clinton became a neo-liberal party and gave up on class politics, eventually culminating in 2012, in which the WWC voted for Romney but Obama won. The first time the democratic party had won without winning the WWC.
Though why was it then only really limited to WWC areas in Appalachia, as Reagan outperformed in counties like Macomb, and Lackawanna.
White resentment and flight still existed in Macomb. Lackawanna, I can't explain but even there since it was so close, I'm sure Mondale won the WWC while Reagan pulled off amazing numbers amongst the lower-middle class and middle-class that propelled his victory there. Also Appalachia has generally been more unionised and poorer and hurt more by the policies of Reagan than other working class areas.
- Images of coal mining areas in the US
What does this map correspond to very strongly to?
If you look at the 1988 presidential election county map, the democratic vote corresponds this to both WWC and working-class communities of colour throughout America, (apart from where there was white flight and a busing crisis, (Macomb County).
