On Oct. 8 in St. Louis, in the second of three presidential debates, members of the audience will have the chance to ask the candidates a question. This week, American Progress roving correspondent John Moyers asked his neighbors and friends in rural Bristol, Vt. what they would ask. Then his travels took him west to the streets of Venice, Calif., where he asked a random sampling of pedestrians what they might ask. Even though Moyers made it clear that questions could be asked of either candidate, almost everyone he spoke with wanted to direct their question only to President Bush.
While Vermont is considered a liberal state, its governor’s office and state House of Representatives are controlled by Republicans. Venice is famous for its iconoclastic beach scene and toney canal-house district. But is it is also community where people of diverse backgrounds fill densely packed middle- and working-class neighborhoods, and the homeless are everywhere.
“Most people knew the second debate is focused on domestic issues,” Moyers writes from the road. “But I couldn’t stop them from asking questions about national security and Iraq. That is what was really on their minds. That’s what most wanted to ask about.”
Click photos/names to see their questions for the candidates.
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 Lorraine Wells, West Los Angeles, manager, Trash and Treasure thrift store |
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Photos and text by John Moyers