I'll try.
The average East Coast pubbie (not all, some are good conservatives) feels more affinity for his Dem neighbor who also went to the same East Coast schools than he does for someone from Alaska who hunts and ran a fishing boat. Not that he has a problem with running a fishing boat, mind you, but Sarah and Todd Palin's proper role in life is to stay on that boat and put salmon on his plate, not run the country. He'd rather have some Ivy Leaguer running the country even if it is a Democrat. Doesn't put his view of the proper order of society out of place, you know.
Hope that helps.