I agree, we do tend to overlap and very often too :)

Until recently, rural voters have not had anything in their interest to vote for, so they voted on culture issues, or they didn't vote at all.

Just about half the rural population votes Republican and the other half votes Democrat. Since gerrymandering is designed to win the electoral college, a lot of rural areas "appear" to be overwhelmingly Republican, when most have a plurality at best - and only rarely a majority.

Tim Walz is the first VP candidate that has a solid background in farming, ranching, and wild lands. Walz is making a big splash and I am eager to see if he turns out rural voters, the way I expect. Republicans are trying to discredit him, by saddling him with a Corporate Farming label. I hope it doesn't work, because Walz has a real sense of what independent farmers need and want. He also served on the ag committee in Congress, and that makes a difference to rural people.

As you know, thanks to the large turnout of rural women, abortion bans were rejected in red states.

I expect a lot more rural women to turn out in this election as well. As I've heard many women say lately, you have to share the confessional with a priest, but you don't have to share the voting booth with anyone. I've heard that so often lately, its a thing.

All that said, very few suburban, exurban and urban Americans, legislators, or presidents understand rural issues or opportunities. The USDA remained a racist agency until Obama was elected. Under Biden, the USDA has been cleaning up its act at a pace never seen before. But the impact will take a few years to be felt.

Under Deb Holland's leadership, the Department of Interior has become a remarkably effective agency. Again the impacts on rural America will take a few years to be felt.

The Department of Transportation has also helped rural America - another first in decades.

I don't know anyone who is impressed with JD Vance. People have been polite, but his capital ventures here in Kentucky, have left a lot of people angry.

The rise of labour unions is evoking old sentiments among older workers in the manufacturing industry. The younger people are listening closely to what unions used to provide workers and their families. Little anecdotal signs, that change in rural votes may be headed our way.

Oh dear, I do go on and on, don't I? Ignore me, write your stuff and I'll see you again. :)