[jyl]

Yes, I find this rural vs urban (or maybe rural+suburban vs urban) divide pretty fascinating. You're right, it tells a lot more than just looking at a state-by-state map. Even in the South, the most densely populated areas tended to Blue while even in California and Oregon, the least densely populated areas tended to Red.

I don't buy the explanations that some people here give, that urban people are amoral gay welfare queens so they vote Dem while rural people are hard-working self-sufficient Christians so they vote Rep. That is silly.