Rene Gutel

(Phoenix, AZ) There is little doubt that Barack Obama will win his home state of Illinois against his challenger John McCain in America’s presidential elections. But McCain’s home turf of Arizona is now considered a swing state by many, especially as Barack Obama starts to pump campaign cash into the southwestern state that has elected McCain to the Senate for more than 20 years. But as Rene Gutel reports from Phoenix, McCain has a lead but Obama’s crowd won’t go quietly. Listen here.

This story aired on World Radio Switzerland.

(Phoenix, AZ) Rene Gutel reports on the atmosphere at John McCain headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona a short time before John McCain conceded defeat to Barack Obama. Listen here.

This report aired live on World Radio Switzerland on Election Night 2008.

(Phoenix, AZ) Not all Republicans are excited about presidential candidate John McCain. And some Democrats have reservations about Barack Obama. Rene Gutel profiles two voters who are crossing party lines this election. Listen here. (Hour 2)

This story aired on Down to the Wire.

(Phoenix, AZ) Rene Gutel reports on the unique role Twitter has played during the fall 2008 presidential election. Listen here. (Hour 3)

This story aired on Down to the Wire.

(Phoenix, AZ) At this stage the presidential race, more than ever before, is all about electoral math. Which states can you pick off to get to 270 electoral votes and win the presidency? For John McCain’s campaign, that means a huge focus on Pennsylvania. If McCain can win the Keystone state, he has a chance. From Pennsylvania, we head over to John McCain’s home state of Arizona to speak with reporter Rene Gutel. One would think it’s a gimme for McCain - he’s represented the state in the Senate for 20 years. But a recent series of polls show a statistical dead heat between McCain and Barack Obama. And late this week, the Obama campaign announced they would be buying advertising there, suggesting they think it’s in play. Rene Gutel joins us from the Arizona Democratic Party Headquarters in Phoenix. Listen here.

This story aired on Weekend America.

(Phoenix, AZ) Our first stop is in the Southwestern U.S.—Phoenix, Arizona. Reporter Rene Gutel went to a truck stop in Phoenix to learn how economic pressures and high fuel prices are affecting truck drivers and other workers there. Listen here.

This story aired on World Radio Switzerland.

(Phoenix, AZ) With the presidential election just over six weeks away, we’re launching a new series on Weekend America called “Politics on the Spot.” Over the next six weekends, we want to take you to places where important issues are at play every day - and to hear how those might be handled differently going forward depending on who’s our next president. We’re calling the series “Politics on the Spot.” Rene Gutel kicks off the series at a truck stop on the road west from Phoenix to Los Angeles. Listen here.

This story was produced for Weekend America.

(Cornville, AZ) The names of presidential hometowns have a special ring to them, a sort of geographical charisma or gravitas. There was Hope, Arkansas. Plains, Georgia. Crawford, Texas and Kennebunkport, Maine. Well if John McCain is elected, the world will get to know a tiny town tucked in Arizona’s Verde Valley. It’s where McCain goes for weekend getaways. And it’s not where you think. Listen here.

This piece was produced for KJZZ and Weekend America.

Protestors and counter-demonstrators gather every Saturday in Phoenix, Ariz., to rally, either for or against, a tough new immigration law that will take affect in January. Rene Gutel reports on the tumult that has become a weekly standard. Listen here.

This story aired on Weekend America.

(Phoenix, AZ) Rene Gutel reports from Arizona on a new political ad airing around the country. It’s called “Where’s the Fence?” It’s about border fence construction approved by Congress, but not yet completed. The main targets of the ad, though, are lawmakers, like Senator John McCain of Arizona, who support an immigration reform plan currently being debated on Capitol Hill. Listen here.

This story aired on PRI’s The World.