General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Want to know why Obama is hated so much in the South? See 12 Years a Slave [View all]mike dub
(541 posts)I used to live in north Florida (south of Alabama) and all of Florida's panhandle (Pensacola to Jacksonville) and just about all of Florida down the middle of the peninsula is culturally still part of the Deep South. A good many folks in this part of the state are native/born and raised in Florida. But the non panhandle coasts (both sides- Gulf South Florida, and Atlantic South Florida) are populated by many retirees and transplants from elsewhere. I think voters on the coasts/not native to Florida, mostly helped Florida go for President Obama.
Along these lines, there was a map during the 2012 GOP primaries that showed counties that went Romney (won the most votes) and counties that went Gingrich (won second-most votes).
What I describe as the Deep South counties of Florida, down to the county, went for Gingrich, while the coastal peninsula counties went Romney (more moderate, less rural Southern) ...though Gingrich isn't a native Southerner either, but he really knows how to dog whistle.
Many native Floridians / rural Southerners probably did Not vote for President Obama.