nothing in common with the average "heartland" chud except hatred and targets for hatred.
This is all that's required for chuds. That's the main thing chuds get out of engaging in US politics. Chuds want to harm their targets of hatred and own the libs. Libs are primarily motivated by assuaging guilt and feeling morally/intellectually superior.
No one can achieve anything material are better their circumstances through politics in the US. Chuds and Libs do however satisfy something that they need, or desire at least, through engaging with it. In thst sense both of them are voting in their self interest in so far as they can both understand it and as they can actually achieve in this system.
That's why its hard talking people out of Chudery or Libness. Because they do get something out of it - as bad for them as it is and as materially useless as it is they still want it and its a core part of peoples identities
now multiply by 5
when a decaying old man talks about saving the "soul of the nation" 
(old man is actually thinking about Birth of a Nation)
That's one of the funniest parts about watching Trump is when he's obviously showing his contempt and hatred for his base.
I have nothing to back this up but what I've seen myself from conservative people - but i think his base also hates themselves lol. I think that's why they are so driven to externalize that hatred. They need a target for hatred because they already have the hate. Being a chud gives them something to do with it that feels like a relief to them - to direct it out and not inside.
It makes sense to me because you would have to miserable to believe the things they do. To believe in such strict "norms" regarding gender, hierarchy, patriarchy. No one is, or has ever been the things they believe. No one can actually be the ideal of what chuds think a "man" is supposed to be to be worthy of existing and not be a target of hatred. That's what I've witnessed anecdotally and it makes sense to me.