Liberal economic populism's diminishing appeal to rural voters

[Mississippi Political Freak]

Hi!  I just wonder why liberal economic populism advocating for the common people against big businesses has less and less appeal to rural voters (Rural Minnesota and western Wisconsin seems to be major exceptions).  To me, a large part seems to stem from their shifting economic sympathy, coincided with the decline of family farms and other mom-and-pop businesses.  With the dominance of major agribusinesses, rural voters increasing view themselves as fledgling entrepreneurs burdened by government red tapes instead of  common folks cheated on/oppressed by the big businesses.

Two of my four options seems to be regional, with residual racism more prominent in the South and maybe the Southwest, while innate libertarian values seems to be more prominent in the Mountain West and parts of the Plains.

As a side questions, I wonder why rural voters seem to be more passionate on cultural issues (abortion, guns and homosexuality) instead of their own economic well being?  Thanks!