Doyle High, Haskell County Republican chairman, wasn't shocked. He's witnessed the Democratic vote in Haskell County throughout the years. And it's been that way since just about forever. High said the streak's roots go back to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal for farmers during the Great Depression. Roosevelt gave birth to federal farm programs in an attempt to subsidize and stabilize the nation's agriculture.
Democrats tend to do well in counties that are predominantly row-crop farming.
Only about 15 miles separate Perry's hometown of Paint Creek in Haskell County from U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm's homeplace at Ericksdahl to the south in Jones County. Counties that are more ranching oriented lean more toward the Republican column. For example, Perry carried Kent County. But in ranching counties like Throckmorton and Stephens, Republican Perry was the overwhelming winner. Republican Nixon beat Kennedy handily in ranching strongholds like Stephens County in 1960.