How did Ted Strickland lose reelection with this map?

[Person Man]

Stickland lost in the burbs but somehow did better with rural voters?

[Person Man]

Losing big in the burbs like indeed suggested combined with a low urban turnout?  Ether of which meant perhaps that doing better in the Appalachian sections of the state wasn't enough for Strickland.

Indeed. Three arguments could be made. Those three arguments were "Strickland wasn't liberal enough" or "Strickland was a horrible campaigner" or he had the right message and communicated it well but turnout was low because people that would never vote R but were pissed at the Obama just gave up.