Progressives need to learn how to address small town and rural voters in an effective way in order to peel off a substantial portion that I suspect can be recruited to support a progressive agenda.  To speak in terms of icons or architypes, we may never recruit the John Wayne fans of that world, but we may have success with the Clark Gable fans.  This is especially true with this segment's younger voters.  Most of them have to leave their homes, their families and their communities just to make a living.  There is a community of interests, but progressives must find a language that works in this demographic without losing voters it already has.  

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."