I don't really agree with everyone claiming that Arkansas is so racist as to why it was the state that swung the most Republican in a big Democratic year. I'm sure that played out to some extent but I think the real reason why Arkansas went so Republican is because of the Clinton factor - Hillary wasn't the nominee and I'm sure a lot of Arkansans felt really hurt and betrayed after watching her go through everything she went through during the primary - being called the Al Sharpton of white people and constantly mouthed as this polarizing bitch all because she dared to run for President and then she was slammed as racist simply for the fact that white, working class voters voted overwhelmingly for her over Obama. They voted for Hillary not because of the color of her skin or because of Obama's skin, but because of her message of jobs, jobs, jobs that really resonated in the rural areas, and most of these Reagan Democrats remember how good life was for them when Bill was president. IMO, it was more of a sincere and nostalgic vote for the Clintons more so than it was the notion that "we're not gonna vote for a black man in my Arkansas." It's really hard to prove racism. Unless you literally go out and ask everyone who voted in these counties why they voted for McCain over Obama, the racist argument is a little flawed. The same situation holds true in West Virginia where Hillary slaughtered Obama in the primary. West Virginia loves the Clintons and I'm sure the fact that she wasn't the nominee made a lot of West Virginians fell the same way as Arkansans. You can even YouTube videos where you have all these self-identified West Virginia Democrats saying they will vote Republican if Hillary isn't the nominee. A lot of people just wrote them off and said, "Oh they'll get over it." Well, they were true to their word. Same in Kentucky.
Again, just my opinion. I have a fond love and respect for West Virginia after this primary election. "You know, like the song says, 'It's almost heaven.'"
