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It could be the most significant American election in generations. What impact will religion have on the result?

On All Things Considered this week (Sunday 26 October at 8.30am, repeated Wednesday 29 October at 6.30pm) we explore what difference faith will make in a country where 90 per cent of people say they believe in God, and many of them are in church every Sunday.

To what extent do religious lobbies determine the issues of debate, choice of candidates, and ultimately who sits in the White House?

Roy Jenkins is joined from Nashville, Tennessee by Dr Richard Land. One of the most influential leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention, with its 16 million members, he is looked after their public policy concerns for the past twenty years. He is one of the people who suggested Sarah Palin for the Republican ticket, and two years ago he described George W. Bush as 'the best president we will see in our lifetime'.

On the line from Pennsylvania is Dr Tony Campolo, frequently heard from platforms in this country - a sociology professor, evangelical social activist and a spiritual adviser to the last Democratic president Bill Clinton.

And in London is Stephen Bates, a staff writer for The Guardian newspaper and formerly its religious affairs correspondent. He travelled across America's Bible Belt to produce his most recent book on religion and politics in the United States.