Coal and corn-pipe country?

In another Mr. Kilgore comes to New York story, the Washington Post says here ("Kilgore Moves to Raise His Profile -- and Funds," 8/31/04) that Kilgore is from "coal and corn-pipe country." It also says that Kilgore speaks with a "a soft, twangy, mountain drawl."

Maybe the Post thinks that instead of being elected governor, Jerry should be on display as some sort of anthropological specimen, "the mountain man from corn-pipe country."