The United States isn’t just about “blue states” and “red states.” World Radio Switzerland asked reporters around the U.S. to take us on a radiophonic roadtrip, to bring us some of the stories of this historic presidential election that normally fly under the international media’s radar.
Athens, Ohio: Barbershop politics Tuesday, 28 October, 2008The final stop on our roadtrip takes us to the swing state of Ohio, where polls are too close to say whether this traditional electoral battleground will fall to Barack Obama or John McCain. Southeast Ohio was crucial to George Bush’s 2004 victory. So what’s on voters minds this time around? Sandra Sleight-Brennan takes us to a barbershop on the main drag of the town of Athens, Ohio to sample some local opinions.
Berkeley, California: Merchandizing "Obamamania" Tuesday, 21 October, 2008Stop four of our U.S. campaign roadtrip takes us across the bay from San Francisco, to the Ashby market. It’s on the border between preominantly black Oakland, California and the liberal bastion of Berkeley. Reporter Andrew Stelzer says you can measure excitement in the African-American community by the merchandizing of Obamamania.
West New York, New Jersey: Dominican family divided Tuesday, 14 October, 2008The third stop on our election roadtrip around the U.S. is West New York, New Jersey, just across the Hudson River from the glittering Manhattan skyscrapers. It’s home to a large community of emigrants from the Dominican Republic. Ten million Latinos are registered to vote around the United States. They could represent an important swing vote this November. Opinions are hardening—even within the same family, as reporter Carole King found out.
Austin, Texas: Camp Obama Tuesday, 7 October, 2008On stop two of our U.S. campaign roadtrip, when think of Texas, you think of it as so-called “red-state,” one dominated by Republicans. It is the home of current president George W. Bush, after all. But reporter Jeff Jones tells us that’s not the whole story. He takes us to “Camp Obama” where enthusiastic Democratic volunteers will sacrifice a lot to help their candidate win.
Phoenix, Arizona: Gas prices at the truck stop Tuesday, 30 September, 2008Our first stop is in the Southwestern U.S.—Phoenix, Arizona. Reporter Rene Gutel went to a truck stop in Phoenix to learn how economic pressures and high fuel prices are affecting truck drivers and other workers there.