There has been plenty of talk from political pundits and the candidates vying for the United States Presidential nominations, but what do everyday Americans think?
Tia O'Neill and Darren Gibbons, who live with their two children in Palmyra, a semi-rural town in Virginia, US. Photo: RNZ/ Jane Patterson
The O'Neill and Gibbons family live in the semi-rural town of Palmyra, in the southern state of Virginia.
Tia O'Neill is freelance writer, Darren Gibbons is the director of a satellite communications company, and they have two children aged six and three.
They are particularly concerned about the state of the medical system.
"The fact that so many people want to repeal Obamacare scares me", Ms O'Neill said.
"But yet I don't actually see it as going far enough.
"I really like the idea of a single payer medical system and health care for all, and that to me is very important; I think the way a society takes care of its young, its old and its ill speaks volumes about who we are as people."
Mr Gibbons is concerned about immigration and security.
"Immigration right now we're letting, evidently, a whole lot of people in our country and our whole background check thing is questionable.
"I think people are quite concerned, I don't think the government's being honest right now as to how many they're allowing into this country and where it is they're placing them - I think we have a right to know that and that's a grey area."
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump greets people at a campaign rally at the Sioux City Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City, Iowa. Photo: AFP
There were major problems with America's health and education systems, but with politicians on Capitol Hill refusing to co-operate, that's unlikely to improve any time soon, he said.
"It's so far gone in my opinion, it's so bad - the public education system and the medical field - that if we don't start working together, we're not going to have a chance to improve it."
The influence of big money and political lobbyists was also huge problem, in Ms O'Neill's view.
"Lobbyists in this country spend way more money than any individual could hope to.
"Their influence is astounding and it really hurts our political system; we're allowing private interests to influence our politicians and I think that's where the anger comes from.
"That's why we have the candidates now that are running, that's why there is such a strong contrast, such a divide, because people are angry on both sides."
Mr Gibbons said he thought there was a good range of candidates on both sides, compared with previous elections.
"Candidates that have a lot of experience, so I'm myself kind of in the middle, you know independent, but I'm looking at both sides and just gotta dig deeper into the detail, make a decision - I like what I see."
Ms O'Neill was not so positive. "I dislike quite a lot of what I see".
US Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton (L) and Bernie Sanders (R) participate in the latest Democratic Candidates Debate Photo: AFP
But she said she was looking closely at the two Democratic candidates, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, either of whom she feels could represent her as a voter.
"I'm slightly torn because I have a long history of being a Hillary supporter, but Bernie Sanders is a representation of that frustration.
"And it's not that Hillary doesn't stand for the same things, the same progressive values that Bernie does.
"I think she has more of a filter, she has more control over how she carries herself and tends to lean more towards the centre and playing it safe and I'd really love to see her just let down and admit that she's angry too and she wants to get things done.
"For me if I was to see that out of her I would stand behind her as I have in the past; if I don't see that I'm probably going to lean towards Bernie Sanders."
And on Donald Trump...
"He's a buffoon to me, I don't even know if I believe in his true interest in becoming president so much as he is feeding his own ego right now.
"I don't know, I don't know, maybe just because I don't want to believe a person can be that disgusting."
Mr Gibbons believed Mr Trump had his own agenda, it's just not clear what that was.
"But he does bring something to the table, he's mixing things up, he gets people really excited, we kinda need something like that right now in these times.
"We don't need the average politician, he's forcing some of these politicians to maybe get outside of their comfort zone."
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks after finishing second in the Iowa Caucus in West Des Moines, Iowa, on 1 February. Photo: AFP
In saying that, said Mr Gibbons, he would be a little nervous if Mr Trump was elected president.
"Yeah, he's a businessman and could he do positive things for our economy and generate jobs? Probably.
"But when it comes to foreign affairs and all that, that's what makes me nervous."
And Ms O'Neill's response to a Trump presidency?
"I hear Canada's nice....."
Jane Patterson's trip to the United States has been funded by a grant from the US Department of State.
