South Carolina - Stuck in Post-Civil War Molasses?

Over at The Next Right, there's a heated discussion of voting patterns. The poster, Sean Oxendine, believes that voting patterns are stable over time. While it's true that the coastal region of SC has not changed much, as the following popular joke indicates:

How many Charlestonians does it take to change a light bulb?

CHANGE? (horrified face)

nonetheless, this year will be different.

Why?

The incredible growth in the Piedmont area, particularly in Rock Hill and surrounding locations. Every day, there is major road building, house raising, and office construction going on. The distinctive Southern speech of most of SC is fast disappearing, as the Northern newcomers move in.

And nowhere is the growth faster than in the Piedmont region.

By sheer numbers, the Reds will gain a majority of the state's votes. The newcomers are educated, liberal-leaning, and likely to vote.