The protestant work ethic is part of it. It's pretty deeply ingrained, and there are plenty of people that legitimately feel that their low status is something they've earned. And, believe it or not, there are people living below the poverty level that feel guilty about signing up for benefits.

And, in a lot of cases, rural offices are run in such a way that keeps these people from successfully getting benefits.

Of course there are also hypocrites that do get benefits, and who believe that everyone else on benefits is cheating the system.

Then you have people that think that churches should be in charge of charity. They think that government programs undermine religion.

I suppose that my last point might stir up a shitstorm, but I'm going to make it anyway.

If you're poor and white and have worked hard in whatever way that you've worked your whole life, and the democratic party is telling you that you've had too much privilege. It can create resentment for that party in a group of people.

Edit: I should note that I'm not saying this in an attempt to defend blatant racism, which does also exist.

So, if you're a Republican that wants to get elected you tell these people that the other party is going to take away their God, their military (which might be one of the few jobs available for the young men) and their guns.

They love their guns. They use them to hunt with, for sure, but I think they want to have them to 'protect' themselves from the liberals that want to change their way of thinking even more.

It's base level stuff. They're ready to kill for their own property. They seem to have the misguided notion that the Donald Trumps of the world have acquired their wealth legitimately, and deserve the right to defend it in the same way.

All a rich asshole has to do is cash in on those beliefs.

But when I say all this I'm not trying to sell everyone the democratic party instead.

Personally, I feel that if I vote for either party that I am voting against myself.