Going back 70-80 years, the last 9 out of 10 major financial crisis were created under Republican Presidents. The one recession out of the 10 was under Carter, I believe, and it lasted all of 4 months.
I agree with you on the poor counties. Kentucky has some of poorest countries, and they are white Republican counties, they continue to vote against their interests, or are they. Maybe their perceived interest is that they are voting with the party that represents their race, which is how people of color see the Republicans party anyway. Must be something to it.