Clallam County, the last presidential bellweather

In mid-October in Port Angeles, the Clallam County Republicans hosted a "Candidate Oktoberfest" at an old grange hall: beer and brats for a few bucks, three free hours of stump speeches and as much cake frosted with the American flag as you could eat. Seats on the floor were full and pews against the walls were well-populated with hardcore Trump fans, as well as some independents and former Democrats who said they might vote Republican.

Three international journalists, including one from the U.K.'s Daily Mail, buzzed around the folding tables and chairs. They traveled here, to this small port...