They are independent people, I worked in South Dakota and my best friend growing up college and still close friend today lives in Montana. However, the conservativim of that area is different than the conservativim in the SE. We do not predicate anyone putting their opinion above our own. So when people put themselves in the position of speaking for us without giving us a voice we get pretty mad. Obviously the MOuntin and plains states do not care. Too bad.
Oh the irony!