Oh I see what you're saying now. Took advantage sounds a little strong to me but I mostly agree. I don't think either party had a choice and were just maintaining their constituencies as they have been for 70+ years. It's not like all the republicans recently moved to rural areas from non-rural ones and ONLY THEN the politicians started pandering to their respective demos.

I think the knowledge of this strategy's existence grew, but the strategy itself has been the same for a long time.