Very easily
- Relax on the gun stuff. Run Democrats who use the words "I will protect your 2nd Amendment rights in any efforts of reform and together we will pass legislation that EVERYONE can agree on"
- Stop the constant race-baiting because you're dealing with white people. Race-baiting is not necessary as a strategy to gain great numbers out of the black vote
Do that and you'll have immediate success
This is exactly what nearly every major Democratic politician already says. Unfortunately, that does not quell the right's fearmongering about gun-snatching.
Well can you blame them? In the 2018 Democratic Primary for governor in FL, Phillip Levine (former mayor of Miami Beach) came out with the whole "I will ban ALL assault weapons!" as part of his platform. Until that aspect of the Democratic party is eliminated they will rightfully struggle with rural voters. I won't get into my personal positions on the matter but I know the rural vote would swing by like 30% Democrat just based on that alone.
Rural folks are all about businesses paying more taxes, going to your gay friend's wedding and healthcare. But you can't run the Levine's of the world and expect them to support you.
