Obama won in 2008 by coming into ethanol country and flipping a couple Red states.. namely Iowa.  ( http://www.270towin.com/2008_Election/interactive_map )

Obama came to Iowa and said, "McCain hates subsidies.. and hates ethanol.. "  and consequently there were REPUBLICANS who voted for Obama in Iowa.. game over.
.. not the ONLY reason.. but enough of one.. top 10 no doubt.

Trump won by flipping them back.  ( http://www.270towin.com/ )  If Hillary would have held.. PA and Mi.. and FLIPPED Iowa.. she would have been sworn in last week..

all you need to know.

If TRUMP is going to have a 2nd term.. HE CAN NOT lose these Red States in play. 

Perdue is from Georgia.. which voted for Trump.  And I'm willing to give him a chance.. but as far as a 2nd term.. he may be the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT CABINENT PICK.. If he plays his cards well.. no big.. but if he messes up.. game over.

Maybe that's why he was the last pick.. because Trump realizes the importance of the office to his chances in 2020..  better get it right. 

And he may have...???  Idk..  we'll see. 

What's important to upper midwest Red states?

trade?  No doubt.. closed factories vs farm exports..

A rural economy.. jobs..

I talked to a pilot this week.. he sold a plane to another pilot.. a corporate jet jockey who's career is to fly big wigs all over the world.. they flew some Aircraft officials.. into China to discuss what it would take to have General Aviation in China like we have in the US..

"Clean air for starters..   THE AIR is SO POLLUTED in CHINA.. that most every landing is on INSTRUMENTS.. it's THAT BAD!!!"

to wit this corporate air jockey exclaims..

"China's policy is to OWN the WORLD's industries.. FIRST.. which means dirty air.. THEN when they have THAT.. they will have US.. Jack the prices up.. clean up their air.. etc"

His take.. totally unsolicited.. but...  hmmm..

Maybe Trump is coming along at the right time afterall.. with his tough talk with China?

"General aviation in China is gonna be much harder if EVERY PILOT has to be instrument rated.. can't just hop in the plane and go..  "

"There's an airport down there somewhere...???" 

As producers of ethanol which gives us cleaner air..(part of the solution..use of coal is probably bigger.. but still..  remember LA BEFORE ethanol??)  
We do not have to apologize for what we do.

end of story.

We have all the pieces.. we just need to put them together..

btw ethanol production set another record.. again.. 3rd week in a row.. someone's gonna have to plant more corn for 2017...

( http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=pet&s=w_epooxe_yop_nus_mbbld&f=w )

 Cheers.

Icahn or Iowa...???  better get it right...