Civil rights and the race divide
Starting in LA on 10 September, the US08 bus set out to discover what Americans are really talking about, and what the world is saying about their nation. The second part of the journey went from Dallas to Nashville.
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Nashville, Tennessee
In Nashville, the home of country music, the second presidential debate took place in a town hall-style meeting.
On the Sunday before, the 大象传媒 and PRI hosted their own debate with panel of politicians and academics, taking questions from a live studio audience.
On the night of the presidential debate, Steve Evans analysed the political leanings of country music with two songwriters: Democrat Ed Pettersen and Republican Buzz Cason.
The second presidential TV debate then took place on the Sunday. In a town hall-style meeting, voters were able to question the candidates directly. The financial crisis and foreign policy dominated the debate:
Afterwards, Allan Little and Steve Evans gathered reaction to what Barack Obama and John McCain had to say, starting with Republican State Senator Jack Johnson:
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Clarksville, Tennessee
Moving into Tennessee, Allan Little met a woman who makes 'tooth fairy' pillows for the children of military personnel killed in action.
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St Louis, Missouri
The presidential battle heated up in St Louis
St Louis hosted the debate between the two vice-Presidential candidates, Sarah Palin and Joe Biden.
Allan Little gathered reaction to the debate from outside the hall:
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Poplar Bluff, Missouri
Poplar Bluff is a definition of middle America
On the way to St Louis, the bus stopped at a school in the small town of Poplar Bluff to meet some of the families who have been badly affected by the economic downturn.
With Congress having rejected a proposed bail-out for Wall Street, Allan Little discussed the events with residents of Poplar Bluff - a town that defines Middle America:
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Memphis, Tennessee
The Cadillac is an icon of America
Memphis residents talked about the ongoing turmoil on Wall Street, and the government's "bail-out" plan:
Meanwhile the bus team were escorted around the city in an iconic American vehicle: a 1955 Cadillac.
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Oxford, Mississippi
The team on the bus brought live coverage of the first TV debate between Obama and McCain to a global audience.
The 大象传媒's Jamie Coomarasamy assesses the performance of both candidates:
Before things kicked off, Allan Little described the mood of anticipation in Oxford:
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Jackson, Mississippi
Allan Little met James Meredith, the first black student to attend the University of Mississippi.
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Vicksburg, Mississippi
On the way to Mississippi's state capital Jackson, Allan Little visited a trailer park on the banks of the state's famous river:
Meanwhile Claire Bolderson reports on what Barack Obama's candidacy for the Presidency tells us about race in the US:
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