Then why do these West Virginians still call themselves Democrats?
What plank of the Democrat party are they massively in support of?
Pretty much its a family thing, "I promised Granpappy on his death bed to always be a democrat..." for decades West Virginia was arguable the most democrat state in the nation. When I moved here in 1982, Democrats had an 87-13 majority in the state legislature, the Republican party was virtually nonexistent. Since the year 2000 the democrat party has completely collapsed in the state, so a lot of these democrats are actually voting straight republican.
What plank of the Democrat party are they massively in support of?
West Virginia is VERY socially conservative, however it is also very pro-union (though not as much as it use to be). West Virginia also tends to be rather pro federal spending / welfare spending, as federal project bring a lot of jobs to the state and a lot of the residents are on welfare.
You beat me to it, guns are a large issue that needs to be driven home. Hillary would happily take your guns from you if given the opportunity. Think Australia which she liked. The cat is out of the bag and will not get back in, no compromise, they will want more tomorrow, if they don’t like it repeal the 2nd amendment.
It’s a holdover from the big miners union/mine owners fights of the early 20th century.
My grandfather was a West (by GOD) Virginia coal miner and a lifelong Democrat.
Old fashioned and conservative as hell, but still a democrat.
He would cheerfully shoot all of what are called democrats today, and call it justified.