Victory in Ohio...

Kieron and Luke

Well, we're here at a rally for the Republicans. We're going to see McCain and Arnie later. Yep, the Terminator is going to be present. I'm expecting plenty of Uzi 9mm action...or not.

It's the biggest and largest rally planned in Ohio. McCain needs this state or so they have reasoned. They've pulled out all the stops at the Columbus, Nationwide Arena.

1600 UPDATE
They've just pledged allegiance to the flag - wow, I felt a little uncomfortable sitting at the back of the room with 3000 Republicans staring at the giant flag behind my head.


1620 UPDATE
Palin gets a mention. The roof nearly falls off. Unbelievable. Perhaps she should have run.


1640 UPDATE
There's one hell of a hoedown going on in here. A young troop of star-spangled-banner clad youths giving their best Michael Flatley impression to that stereotypical slightly gawkish country music.

I'm sure 'The Mavericks' are in here somewhere .Speech writing in the U.S must be an artform, you must allow brief but definite intermissions for mandatory 'whoop-whooping' in between each statement.
Yeeeeeeehaaawwwwww!


1700 UPDATE

There are literally 5,000 people looking at me and Kieron. We are sat under the biggest American flag in the history of the world with the whole stadium looking at it and singing their national anthem.

Also, we borrowed our car from a staunch Democrat who has pro-abortion and anti-religion stickers in his car, it's parked just outside the stadium. Judging by this lot, we are not going to get out of here alive!


1712 UPDATE
They've just rolled out the Mexican wave...well as long as they're not crossing the boarder I suppose. (Can I say that?)

1742 UPDATE
The real media have just arrived. Hundreds of network representatives and their technical crews. I've just been chatting to a couple of Republic of Ireland news types - a lovely pair and equally confused by this circus of insanity.

They might be making small gains but this campaign needs saving. McCain and the Last Action Hero are minutes away. They need him.

1803 UPDATE
The Straight Talk Express drives straight in to the arena. McCain and Arnie jump out to a massive roar.

Arnie lays in to Obama - not literally of course, it wouldn't be a fair fight - he challenges his lack of experience and drives home McCain's readiness to lead. He's an impressive figure on stage and he has a rapport with this crowd.

He's suggesting that Europe was a dirty socialist place and that America has made him the man he is...sorry Austria. Obama wants to take the country back to Europe in the mid-80s apparently. The crowd loves it.

His comment that McCain is a rock is difficult to accept when the man has just waddled on stage though. He introduces McCain - 'The Mac is back'.


1824 UPDATE
McCain is in full-swing. Nothing new here, he's preaching to the converted and they love it. The base is ready to vote and will make it tough for Obama to win here next Tuesday.

He's attacking the idea of Socialism now and riffing on the fears of this crowd - higher taxes, higher taxes and higher taxes. He promises no tax increases and will fix the economy by drilling and drilling now. Environmentalists hold their collective breath.

1831 UPDATE
Obama isn't ready to lead. It's an easy attack and the polls don't seem to back up McCain's faith in it but he rolls it out again. Palin is next, the crowd love her, and McCain is 'looking forward to introducing her to Washington'. But are swing-voters as keen? Again, the polls suggest not.

1836 UPDATE
"We're coming back, and we're coming back strong." McCain is bullish. I don't know what he knows that we don't. But he's right - this race isn't over.

"America is worth fighting for and we never give up!"

When the levy breaks...

Kieron

New Orleans. It's a strange place. Unlike anywhere else in the south; they actively encourage debauchery with little recourse to taste or decency. It's a place to party. Well, at least in the French Quarter.

Luke and I were offered beer, drugs and sex; all for a knock-down price, all with a smile and all before 11.30am. It's seedy and disconcerting but the place is so comfortable with it's hedonistic reputation that nothing seems out of place.

Until you visit the Lower Ninth Ward. Here, nothing's in place. The levy broke at the Lower Ninth and the devastation is difficult to put in to words. Houses were literally stripped away and communities drowned in the process. Those buildings that withstood the torrent were gutted and few families have taken the chance of moving back.

We spent the day with Lower Ninth.org - a completely voluntary group who refit houses that are structurally sound, for New Orleanians who want to move back. It's hard work that is just inspirational, touching and crucial to restoring a city that has seemingly been left behind by the Government.

All of the house building we saw in the Lower Ninth was being carried out by charities - Brad Pitt is doing more than the Bush Administration here.

But, we're here to talk about the future. Which is what we did.

Thanks to Matt from Lower Ninth.org who was our excellent tour guide and, Melba 'Lucky' Hort and Robert Green who are rebuilding their lives in L9.

The calm before the storm...

Kieron

Hello! It's me, the taller one. You know, the guy who talks a lot of nonsense and passes it off for intelligent conversation?!

Look, I'm sorry I've been wayward the last two days. It barely feels like I'm in America; I've been in the car missing all the scenery instead. Staring at a laptop screen, editing the final TV submissions for Current. They will be online within the week and on the Televizzle in the same time so keep your eyes peeled to this site for schedules.

Anyway, back to the US of A. We have been filming occasionally, so expect a flurry of videos and updates tonight and tomorrow. We've just not had time to upload things, it's not that we're being lazy.

I'll give you a quick catch-up. We're in New Orleans; wow, what a beautiful city. At least, in the tourist districts. The devastation of Katrina has left it's mark on the landscape and the psychology of the place.

Our couch surfing host, Corey, has lived here all of his 25 years and he says the place is waiting to be swallowed up in the deluge. There's no hope for New Orleans in his eyes, the Government isn't willing to fix the problems and the people are playing a grim waiting game, watching the hurricane season with eagle eyes, waiting to fly the nest.

It's sad, because this place is stunning. And completely unique. In a country where strip malls out number roads to put them on, it's nice to see a city so shaped by it's history and culture rather than capitalist drive.

Anyway, more on this tomorrow. For now, enjoy Luke in New York, being made to look stupid...