most benighted us state

[cinyc]

California. 

A state whose major population center revolves around the lifestyles of the dumb and vapid pretending as if they are smart and sophisticated, while living in a state of moral darkness.

That fits the second definition muon2 provided to a T.

Runner up: Nevada - California-lite with gambling, prostitution and the porn industry.

Mississippi may be a lot of things, but it sure isn't morally bankrupt.

[cinyc]

But the biggest swing was in Louisiana. It went from 24% of whites for Kerry, to only 14% for Obama.
Apparently down there they dreaded the prospect of returning to the tax rates of the Clinton era.

And what part of that was because Hurricane Katrina chased Democrats living in the New Orleans area out of the state?

Louisiana has a minority governor.

[cinyc]

But the biggest swing was in Louisiana. It went from 24% of whites for Kerry, to only 14% for Obama.
Apparently down there they dreaded the prospect of returning to the tax rates of the Clinton era.

And what part of that was because Hurricane Katrina chased Democrats living in the New Orleans area out of the state?

Louisiana has a minority governor.

So, because Katrina displaced blacks from New Orleans, whites voted more Republican in 2008.
Of course, it makes perfect sense!

Katrina displaced white people from the New Orleans area, too.  Believe it or not, white people lived in the New Orleans and its metro area, too.  Majority-white St. Bernard Parish was arguably more decimated than New Orleans - and hasn't rebound as much as Orleans Parish.