KEY POINTS:
Bob Powers grew up in a corner of Missouri that is all about huntin', fishin' ... and votin' for the Grand Old Party.
That's what they call the Republican Party in its strongholds.
The 67-year old - who has lived in New Zealand for five years - has voted Republican since Ronald Reagan came to power in 1980, and says that, had he registered, he would probably have been ticking John McCain.
The Arizona senator, like all good Republicans, stands for "small government", he says.
His opponent, Barack Obama, wants to increase the bureaucracy, and "tax out incentive".
But Mr Powers does have grudging respect for Mr Obama.
"If we could just convert Obama to be a conservative, or to being a little more conservative, we could be on to a winner."
He is effusive in his praise of the Illinois senator, describing him as the embodiment of the American dream.
"That's another reason I wish Obama was a bit more conservative. It would really reflect well on America to find somebody that has come up like he has ..."
Auckland public relations consultant Fred Russo votes Democrat, and thinks Mr Obama is the man to lead the US.
Mr Russo was born in New York, educated in Arizona, and now lives in Auckland after moving from Thailand with his Kiwi fiancee two years ago.
He has already mailed his voting form. He says the election will be a turning point for America, as an Obama victory will be as pivotal as John F. Kennedy's victory in 1961. Kennedy was the first Catholic President and Mr Obama would be the first black commander-in-chief.
Both men also had to deal with deeply unpopular conflicts - Vietnam for Kennedy, Iraq and Afghanistan for Obama, Mr Russo says.
Spending his formative years in Arizona has left Mr Russo with respect for Mr McCain who, he says, has had "some pretty good bottom line results for Arizona".
"I am a bit of a McCain supporter, but when it comes down to it, I think Obama is going to be better for the country. I am a Democrat now, and that's the way I have got to look at it."
* Live cover of the US elections begins on TV One at 12.30pm on Wednesday.
