Barack Obama gears up for crucial vote in US midterms

Barack Obama's about to face his toughest test yet as US President.

On Tuesday (2 November) Americans go to the polls to deliver their verdict on their leader almost two years after he arrived at the White House.

They're called the midterm elections and even though the president's not running, members of his party the Democrats are.

This time a third force is also competing for seats in congress.

President Obama features on Halloween pumpkins

It's the Tea Party.

Newsbeat has been finding out what they're about in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Tea Party

The taxi ride from Las Vegas Airport to the hotel on the strip is exhilarating.

You can't escape the vibrancy, rows of bright neon lights one after another and hoards of people scattered in between them.

It's like every colour under the sun has a place in the world's entertainment capital and the vibe is thrilling.

It's one of the most liberal cities in the US where tourists come to drink and gamble.

In parts of the State of Nevada, prostitution is legal and people in Vegas told Newsbeat it goes on there too but on the black market.

But for one weekend a year, some of the country's most conservative voices travel to Vegas for the bull riding championships.

For cowboys, it's an event that can't be missed, often representing their manhood.

Many at the Thomas & Mack Center, where the finals were being held, told Newsbeat they don't like the direction America's going in and are fans of the Tea Party, which critics accuse of being anti-government, right wing and even racist.

Lacy and Philip Denson travelled from down south to watch the show.

Lacy and Philip Denson want Barack Obama out of the White House

They're from Texas and told Newsbeat they want President Obama out of the White House and the Tea Party candidates voted into Congress.

Lacy is 27 years old and works in the meat industry and describes herself as very conservative.

She said: "To me the Tea Party means, as a country, us being able to stand up and say we're tired of the way our country's run and we're not going to take it any more."

The movement kicked off last year with protests across the US against President Obama's stimulus plan which was about spending public money to get America out of recession.

Members are mostly white, middle-aged, and very conservative in their views and so they're often against things like gay marriage and abortion.

On the ballot paper, they stand as Republicans but are further to the right.

Their message isn't social but political; cut taxes and cut government control.

'Throw in the towel'

Philip is 30 years old and works at a ranch.

He said he's had enough of President Obama's failed politics.

He told Newsbeat: "I'm just ready to throw in the towel.

"I don't want to hear any more and I just want to get away from it but you can't because this is our country and I'm going to end up paying the taxes and footing the bill for everything else he's doing."

Many at the bull riding championships in Las Vegas support the Tea Party

Just mention the word politics and many in Las Vegas have rage in their eyes.

The anger is transparent and much of it's based around a feeling of injustice.

Tea Party supporters believe it's unfair that their lives are ruled by the government.

They're against President Obama's NHS-style health care plan which will provide affordable care to America's poorest people.

Lacy said: "Telling you what you can and can't do, where you should go to the doctor, whether you should drink or smoke, so basically he wants the government to run everything, and we're about saying no to that."

While sitting in the hotel room watching TV, it was impossible to escape the tense political climate in the US.

You're bombarded with a stream of adverts about candidates and parties, and in some cases, the messages are fierce.

In Nevada, the contest involving a Tea Party candidate running against a long-time serving Democratic Senator is a national talking point.

The race is tight and it could go either way.

Politically, Nevada is a depressing story with the highest unemployment and house repossession rate in the country.

Critics say the Tea Party won't do well in a State that's so liberal because it's too far right with unrealistic views.

But with President Obama's popularity low and unemployment high, many say it has a good shot at making its mark on government.