oops yeah you’re right.
I was a little over the top yesterday. To answer your question, small town and rural America don’t have as much influence as they used to, nor do old urban neighborhoods which broke up as people moved to the suburbs. People aren’t voting in their own interest anymore. They’re swayed by faraway mass media. Of course, immigration and the educational system played a big role as well. Then, too, politicians realize that in a divided country they can stay in power longer by appealing to different groups, rather than acting in the public interest.