Tracking Appalachia's Swing From Hillary Clinton to Donald Trump Country

ABC News ^ | May 4, 2016, 11:57 AM ET | MERIDITH MCGRAW

[Milhous]

During his victory speech Tuesday night after the Indiana primary, Donald Trump emphasized a region that could be ground zero for support: Appalachia.

“The miners in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, Ohio and all over, they’re going to start to work again,” Trump said. “We are not going to be like Hillary Clinton,” he said, taking aim at her ill-timed remarks last more for which she ultimately apologized.

Once upon a time in coal country -- states stretching along the Appalachian Mountains and the Marcellus Shale, a formation rich in underground resources like natural gas and coal -- the Clinton name reigned.

Back in 1992, then-Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton won counties in Appalachia with over 70 percent of the vote in the general election. Flash forward to 2016, and West Virginia, which holds its primary next Tuesday, eastern Kentucky, southwestern Virginia, and southern Ohio are home to the strongest pockets of Trump support in the country.

[goldstategop]

Border counties in KY, OH and PA went big for Trump.

Expect the same in WVA next week.

[buckalfa]

The swing started back with the emergence of the Reagan Democrats and continues today. The thing is Appalachia does not have enough voters thus electoral clout to make a difference in national elections.

[Argus]

What we are seeing is the resurgence of classic American nationalism. It has the potential to be volcanic.

[Jeff Head]

Obama, with Hillary’s blessing...have ravaged Appalachia.

And those people know it.

Look for all of those states to be in play for Trump.

[OrangeHoof]

It takes a liberal to think they can strut around with their envirofriends and gleefully declare that they plan to kill a state’s industry and then expect the people of that state to worship them when they visit to campaign. Even union members are not that brain dead.

[Nifster]

Doesn’t matter. The point is that Hillary cannot take them for granted.

Trump is going to campaign everywhere. He is going to hammer the issues that Americans care about, borders, immigration, trade, jobs. Those are the winners. Trump will have folks voting for him that want someone on their side not the DC political class

Whatever else may be true about Trump, he LOVES America. Hillary does not she loves Hillary

[DoodleDawg]

West Virginia hasn’t gone for a Democrat since 1996. It was never Hillary Clinton country.

[RightWingNut]

It worked for decades !!!

In some instances, it is still working !!

[Despot of the Delta]

Trump is going to make the Dem’s spend money and defend in places they haven’t had to for a long time

[Busta Rhymes]

I don’t mean to offend anyone but listening yesterday to the laid off miner I couldn’t help but think WV voted for Obama TWICE knowing what he planned to do. I have sympathy for anyone wanting a good paying job and not having one but these last 8 years should have been a reason to maybe plan for your circumstances.

NO ONE is going to save you. YOU have to save yourself.

The man spoke on Cavuto’s show and kept saying God this and God that. I understand having faith but that won’t feed your family. The government is not going to take care of you. Sitting and waiting gets you nothing.

[lodi90]

West Virginia hasn’t gone for a Democrat since 1996. It was never Hillary Clinton country.

---

Hildabeast was in battleground Ohio when she insulted the coal industry. And battleground Virginia is right next door to WV.

[sarge83]

Only dyed in the wool commies and lazy check drawers in my neck of the woods are for the Witch in southeast Kentucky.

[HapaxLegamenon]

Actually, the last time a Democrat won West Virginia’s electoral votes was 1988.

[HapaxLegamenon]

West Virginia did not give Electorial Votes to Obama. Virginia did twice.

[DoodleDawg]

Actually, the last time a Democrat won West Virginia’s electoral votes was 1988.

Check again, please. Clinton took the state in 1992 and 1996.

[HapaxLegamenon]

Sorry, my bad.

[vette6387]

“West Virginia hasn’t gone for a Democrat since 1996. It was never Hillary Clinton country.”

WHAT ABOUT SHEETS BYRD? Half the state is named after that shameful bastard! You probably can’t use a public restroom in WVA that isn’t named after him. Or Manchin? WV has a lot of “purging” to do to rid itself of RATs! I was glad to see them giving Hillary the finger though. That’s a start!

[Fraxinus]

The thing is Appalachia does not have enough voters thus electoral clout to make a difference in national elections.

Depends on if the Unions in Pittsburg can generate enough votes for Dems. If Allegheny county PA votes republican, PA shifts.

[ripnbang]

God helps those that help themselves.