What "redneck" stuff? I suppose he could walk around using phrases such as "chill out" and turn on a lot of folks, eh?
By the way, Reagan drove an old Jeep, wore blue jeans (sometimes with the big belt buckle!), chopped wood, chainsawed trees, and built fence around his place. And I just betcha he chewed on a piece of straw at times while doing all the above. Sure hurt him, didn't it.
But Reagan lived out west on a ranch. George W. Bush spent most of his time in Texas and owns a ranch. In contrast George Allen in cowboy boots looks like a frat boy going to a costume party.
There is a difference between logical local flair and contrived hokiness. The more Allen tries to slip in his drugstore cowboy look as an 'Aw shucks, this is just plain 'ol genuine me' the more he comes across as superficial and trying too hard. Who wants that in a leader?