Cling was a poor choice of words. What I think that he was talking about was their tendency to vote against their own interests when given the choice to.

The Republicans offer them defense of their "gun rights" defense of their positions on gay marriage and abortion they offer to build fences at the borders. They also pass the tax burden of the wealthy and of corporations to the children of these small town people.

But when a black man named Barack Obama offers them hope. They don't buy it. they cling to those things.