"the race boiled down to the city folk -vs- hick factor"
That's really it. Many think that because the race was close, there is a relatively even distribution of voters all across the country. In reality, there are simply 2 different cultures in this country. One is conservative and rural, the other liberal and urban. No news there. Neither understands the other. Particularly when the rural dwellers are referred to as 'hicks'. That's laughable. Most of us 'hicks' live in affluent, upscale suburbs ......