At one house, Garcia was surprised to find that the registered voter was Jose Torres, 46, an old friend and former colleague in Washington state whom he hadn't seen in years. Both were butchers there before heading south to better-paying jobs in desert casinos.
Torres said he had lost his job at Caesars Palace when tourism began to drop off nine months ago. He got another job at Trump International Hotel and Tower but was laid off three months ago. He pointed to two Ford Malibus in the frontyard and said he was trying to make a living buying and selling automobiles. It wasn't enough. "I'm going to lose this house," Torres said.
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.
Garcia asked Torres whom he would vote for.
"Por el moreno," Torres said, using a respectful word for a black man. "He's the best. The other one is just going to keep helping the rich."
Garcia, 59, said he encounters Latinos worried that if Obama wins, African Americans will feel empowered and lord their status over Latinos, particularly at work. Other voters, however, argue that anyone who has faced discrimination would be good for all minorities.
"We've been to Republican houses that are voting for Obama, and we've seen morenos who are voting for McCain," said Bermudez.
Irma Martinez, 48, finds a lot of disappointed Clinton supporters. "They say they wanted to vote for Hillary, and I say, 'I did too. But this is the one who won, and we have to support him. He can help our people,' " she said between houses.
As the sun went down, children came out to ride bikes, and men gathered in a frontyard on Samantha Street to usher in the evening with Bud Light and ranchera music.
"How can McCain say the economy is strong the way we are here?" asked Jesus Veliz, 42, who works in a Mexican restaurant. "We're not only worse off here in the United States, but back in Mexico they're worse off than before."
The others nodded. They worked in an Italian restaurant, at a casino and at a construction company but worried that the work might not last beyond the election.
"No hay bisnes," said Ivan Rodriguez, 25. "If there's no business, they don't make money, and we don't work."
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marjorie.miller@latimes.com
