Why can't Democrats win in rural areas?

[karynnj]

69. I wonder if part of the answer might be to design ads that speak to at least some of these

People in rural areas. I would guess that in urban areas, it is not white papers that get voters for us. In both cases, it is partially cultural. Obama spoke of it as religion and guns in one of his few unartful (his word) comments in speaking of the rural areas.

I wonder if we need to consider that it may not be rural, but a culture that has demonized Democrats. Consider Leahy, Sanders and Welch all win by huge margins in a state where the largest city is about 42,000 people. They win lots of rural votes and rural Vermonters know them well. Needless to say, their messages to Vermonters may not work elsewhere, but it suggests that not looking for a message that works and writing Tham off may be a very bad answer.

What if in each state or region, the party looks for Democrats in rural areas and asks them what parts of the Democratic agenda appeals to people around them. Ads that positively suggest solutions to their problems are being implemented and having Democratic candidates speak of their values and lives EARLY before Republicans frame them as something they are not.