The other tactic is to try to find other people to ride with you ... then you become a movement... it *is* tricky. In my experience, on those kinds of roads, drivers don't expect cycles, and they dont' *LIKE* them, and they are hostile. I feel like I'm exercising my rights... rights that are not going to be yielded willingly.
Timing is everything, though... now that there are some forces saying "maybe we shouldn't be addicted to oil," people *might* be more willing to cheer for you and leave you lots of room. On the other hand, change can be very threatening; that guy in the Hummer towing is small yacht may have a certain attitude...