A common misconception.
Some of the northerners are more liberal, but many are reliable conservative Republicans in a state without a strong Republican tradition.
There has also been an influx of blacks and hispanics to go with a strong unaffiliated segment, giving a megabucks campaign an opportunity to strongly skew the electorate in its favor.
Actually, I think you may be right. The old Democrat sway is perhaps opening up to in-comers who are likely to be Republican as die hard liberal Democrat, and the now sixth plus or minus generation of grandchildren of the aforementioned hostilities (and third from FDR [who saved this nation...]) are less likely to equate conservatism and party affiliation. Some of that is good, some of that is a deplorable result of poor education, but some prejudices are best left behind regardless of their roots.
Not to downplay their influence, but the ultra liberal establishment in the Asheville area is relatively recent, if you get out of it a bit, you have a lot less. I still recall with humor the people who were convinced that Jesse Helms stole the election because “everyone [they] knew voted for” who ever that was. The problem with small social circles is the assumptions they make about the population at large.
Note to Republicans - I am less likely to equate conservatism with party affiliation myself, having been fooled once or twice by now, so shape up or ship out your own selves.