There aren't that many overwhelmingly Democratic counties in rural America. But there's good variety — warm, cold, hip, poor, rich, black, white and brown.

In more than 72 percent of rural and exurban counties, Mitt Romney won with more than 55 percent of the vote — a landslide in this otherwise close election.

Turnout in rural counties was down by over 3 million votes in 2012 compared to 2008. Seventy percent of that decrease comes from Democratic Party totals.

In the western swing states (Iowa, Nevada and Colorado), President Obama saw a decline in both his total votes and his margins from 2008. But he won anyway because of strong tallies in urban counties.