But Democratic and Republican activists working the precincts say the economy is the main issue for most voters. The war in Iraq is second on the minds of Latinos, many of whom have friends and family in Iraq. A few said they opposed McCain for having moved away from comprehensive immigration overhaul as a presidential candidate.
Both parties are advertising heavily on Spanish-language radio and television. At McCain headquarters, they are distributing "Estamos Unidos: McCain" bumper stickers and "Latinas con McCain" lawn signs. At the Culinary Workers Union Local 226, meanwhile, dozens of workers loaded up on Obama door hangers and bilingual lists of groups offering food, healthcare and foreclosure aid.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Thursday, October 30, 2008 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 44 words Type of Material: Correction
Latino voters: An article Sunday in Section A about Latino voters in Nevada mentioned Jose Torres, a man trying to make ends meet by buying and selling automobiles, and said he "pointed to two Ford Malibus" in the frontyard. Malibus are made by Chevrolet.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Sunday, November 02, 2008 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 45 words Type of Material: Correction
Latino voters: An article Oct. 26 in Section A about Latino voters in Nevada mentioned Jose Torres, a man trying to make ends meet by buying and selling automobiles, and said he "pointed to two Ford Malibus" in the frontyard. Malibus are made by Chevrolet.
Among those pounding the pavement for Obama were Santos Garcia, who voted for George H.W. Bush before the Persian Gulf War turned him into a Democrat, and Irma Sanchez, who, like a majority of Nevada Democrats, supported Hillary Rodham Clinton in the state's January caucus. Jairo Bermudez was another canvasser, but like many Latinos, he is not yet a citizen and therefore is ineligible to vote. All three are casino shop stewards working for the union in favor of Obama.
They carried red binders full of street maps and the names and addresses of union members who were registered voters. By the fourth day of early voting in Nevada, about 70,000 people had already cast ballots in Clark County, and campaign workers were hoping to get many more to the polls before election day.
The Obama supporters walked past empty stucco houses to others in full Halloween regalia, the smell of cooking chile relleno wafting over the East Las Vegas neighborhood. Vans parked curbside advertised small businesses: Instead of Joe the Plumber, it was Javier's Professional Carpet Cleaning, Pepe Construction Framing and Maganas Tree Service.
Like mail carriers, the canvassers worried about angry dogs and worse. Garcia said that Obama workers had been roughed up and that one had had a gun pulled on him. Most doorbells went unanswered, because the occupants were either at work, sleeping after the graveyard shift or uninterested in talking politics.
When they found a registered voter at home, the canvassers switched into get-out-the-vote mode. They offered a ride to the early-voting booths. If the resident said he planned to vote Nov. 4, they marked their sheets to check back on election day. If the resident said she planned to vote that afternoon, canvassers made a note to check for her name on a list of voters who had cast ballots that is issued by the county each night. And if the name wasn't there, they would circle back the following day.
