In reading the rural thing, I'm not in agreement there at all. A Democrat damned near won the governorship in South Dakota! While the folks we send to DC have often been able to be the best politician, regardless of party, governors have almost always been from one party. A handicapped Democratic candidate who was open about his positive relationship with the reservations (something most politicians won't touch with a ten foot pole) won him votes from a lot of farmers. Of course, a flat-out lie by his competition released Friday before the election in ads and multiple papers gave him little time to refute, and it was blasted all over social media and rallied those farmers who did not do the research. Many who found out afterward that the ads were a lie were infuriated and have said they would have shifted their votes. That's older farmers around the coffee shop, let alone the younger ones who do more research on the topics. Rural markets can be won by someone who is authentic, genuinely has rural concerns in mind (really all they'd need to do is mention how Trump's policies have killed economics around the farm with a few easy-to-understand numbers, and it'd go over very well as these folks have lived it), and is willing to admit their faults. One of the biggest feedbacks that folks gave on Obama here that didn't like him was that he came off as elitist. While you and I may appreciate his ability to orate, more down-to-earth speaking has its place as well.