You have to remember what flipped these states, in the voter demographic also individually, first off. Ex: Arizona, or even Georgia.
In that list you made you can easily include Kentucky, West Virginia, to some extent. They are Appalachia states just like Tennessee. However, Kentucky only just recently, finally elected a democratic governor since forever, that state is red, Mitch's home state. West Virginia is coal country, and you have Joe Manchin [ who is a Democrat mostly in clothing only; who wants his political career in a red state ], I can remember back when it was Robert Byrd who served as Senator (D) of West Virginia for 51 years, and that state had a "hell 'a lot more democrats in it then." ( changed, Unions diminished, etc. Byrd left ).
Again, look what happened to Tennessee. Al Gore country. Al Gore Senior his father carried big weight in this state (D). There were more democrats. Al Gore had more backing back then too. Tennessee was more of a mid-south, flipable, slightly more liberal swingable state. Yes, even for being labeled a so called "hillbilly state." It's true. There was very open minds all around the Nashville and middle TN area, around the Memphis area, Knoxville (Appalachia side of the state, more conservative, oddly their arm could be twisted by key politicians, which Al Gore was able to do until 2000 election. Things had change just before that. ) But, yes a long came a guy called Bill Clinton who spotted Al Gore, they both had a vision going! The rest is history on that.
But, yes, Tennessee has changed for the worst. Now, a super majority (R) state. The DNC has now almost thrown the towel in !! I even read an article about 8 weeks ago, that a DNC official in one of the offices even asked the DNC, "have you just given up on the state ?"
Personally, you can have Louisiana !! You can take !! I have no use for that state ! Can't stand that place! I dislike the terrain. I hate the weather! Some of the people have rubbed me the wrong way. The one's that I have known are sneaks, ( I have nothing against their Cajun accent, the French quarter history, or the French Cajun food cuisine, or the history of New Orleans as a city, or port, like that etc.)
It's just the politics, the corruption in general, this disposition of the rest of the state. Backwards politics, and depravity to it's citizens etc. I don't care for the place, I know how my brother stands living there?
Mississippi, is not any difference much between Louisiana, and place holder between Alabama ! We have made enough rants on this forum about Alabama. I want add anything more about that. I was stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi once for 6 months! But, it's different slightly from the rest of the state. Mississippi is a poor state + it's a tie between LA and MS who's the most poor at times. My 6 months in Biloxi was as an airman for 6 months on the coast line of the Gulf Coast. I was some what insular from the civilian population. But, I experienced enough in the local metal bars, night clubs, and in restaurants, out the general population of how it was down there.
Actually, recently I found out that my father has a relative that lives down in the Huntsville, Al area I believe. Strange, I didn't know that until recently?
Remembering, that North Carolina + South Carolina are rather odd. N.C. has one end of it in Appalachia. And, that end is just like eastern Tennessee almost identically (carbon copies). The rest of N.C. moves east ward toward that Atlantic flat coastal something, they call it? The politics then changes a lot in N.C. This is very deceiving in regards to our electoral system. North Carolina should have gone Democratic (D) in the last 2 presidential elections ! #1 most Gerrymandered state in the U.S. And, not one word from the Replicant Party (R) about it. There enough democrats there for that state to turn BLUE! The sleeping bear in the woods on the election map! No one is saying anything about due to the U.S. Supreme Court (Thanks justice Kavanaugh and Roberts) There are some very progressive people in N.C. actually that have moved there.
S.C. I've only drove through there 2x in recent years back in 2006/7 I'm not sure of what it reminded me of? More, flat, more level terrain. I saw some peach trees. I know that there were some plantations there back during the era. I could see evidence of where the cotton plantations were once at. (Just like VA, you'll see it there too)
South Carolina is an anomaly to me personally, as far as travels are concerned. But, from the political map, I can pretty much size up what I can tell from that.
Every state mentioned up above mentioned, I have drove through, more than once, stayed over for a couple of nights, or even spent a week or more staying there:
-Arizona ( spent 2 weeks in Phoenix ) drove through there 2x - coming back and froth form California 1984/2004 (2 wks. each time)
-Arkansas, I usually drive right through that place !!
I only stopped to get gas or a snack, until I hit Memphis
-Mississippi I was there for 6 months! Biloxi MS Biloxi Blues. Mini stories I could tell. Just a poor state. They get by with what they can.
-Alabama, We've said it all. I've drove through that state down to Birmingham, and Huntsville a couple of times
-W Virginia Drove through it on the way to Pittsburgh once.
-Kentucky, every time I go through that state, something weird happens !
-ALASKA Never Been there !! And, would only visit, would never live there !!
-State we should mention Oklahoma .... I've been there... OMG.. That state, is desolate ! I've been to Norman OK, Altus, OK, and Oklahoma city. That state is hardcore red-state.
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