How would Gore have done in WV/TN/AR/LA against McCain?

[Old Man Willow]

It's easy to see how Gore lost these states against Bush, a socially conservative southerner (Gore wasn't seen as much of a southerner in 2000). How would he have done against a socially moderate, centrist Republican like McCain? I didn't list KY because I assume it would have been Safe R in any circumstance since Clinton barely won it in 1996 and Bush won by it double digits.

[Old Man Willow]

Slightly better, but McCain likely chooses Fred Thompson as his running mate, thus countering Gore's favorite son effect. Also, McCain was not seen as an out-of-touch intellectual.

Also I think Gore would have fallen off almost as hard in West Virginia as Bush IMO. McCain would have less evangelical support but just as much coal support as I think Gore’s green image was the biggest part of what cost him the state that year.

That's the narrative but I've read multiple articles from 2000 on why WV was competitive that year and when voters were interviewed they said they were voting for Bush for social/cultural reasons.