Paul Pattons sexual escapades along with Steve Henrys legal problems assured a Republican win in Ky.
This factoid neatly summarizes the major problem the Rats have with the South. In blue territory, extramarital affairs, Oval Office Lewinskys and illegal activities with sleazy people are resume enhancers. The more of these things you can boast to, the further you go and the more you are admired and kowtowed to.
In red territory (which the South solidly is) OTOH, these things are seem as indicators of low character and immorality, and people who practice them are punished for it.
The Rats just can't figure this out, and it drives them crazy. So naturally they respond as "enlightened" people do when faced with the incomprehensible - they sneer at it, mock it and demean the people who believe in it as ignorant, uncultured rubes.