Obama's vote plummeted in middle Tennessee for an obvious reason (actually probably for two obvious and similar reasons). Even though Kerry's drop off was quite substantial to begin with compared to Democrats who weren't Gore (partially social issues, partially Catholic, you know).
These areas are poor, socially conservative. For the Democratic part, you have to go back to the Civil War, I believe. They still are that - just not where the national party is right now.
a interesting thing to note is that well obama dropped off heavily there wasn't much of a rise in people voting republican in those counties the voters simply didn't turnout.
