The real people in candidates' narratives

T. J. Bonner, 54

A 29-year veteran of the US Border Patrol and president of the National Border Patrol Council union.

He gave Republican Mitt Romney a tour of the border fence in San Ysidro, Calif. Romney cites Bonner in explaining his proposals on illegal immigration.

Romney interview, "Glenn Beck" show, Oct. 14
"I also had the occasion of being with . . . the head of the Border Patrol agent union. And we looked along the fence, and I asked him how many people try and cross here in San Diego, where there is the fence. And he said, 'You get about 100 a day trying to cross and we stop about 40. The other 60 get in.' And I said, 'What are we going to have to do to stop these crossings?' And he said, 'You've got to turn off the magnets.' And the magnets are sanctuary cities that offer benefits to people who come here illegally, states that say they're going to give tuition credit to illegal aliens, and then also it's the sanctuary employers, people who hire people that have come here illegally."

Bonner on Romney
"I said, 'Well, here's a first: A presidential candidate who's actually interested in what the front-line employees think about the state of our borders and a recommendation on how to fix this sorry state of affairs.' . . . I did not get the sense that he was just ho-hum, let's get this over with so I can just claim that I went down to the border. I got the sense that he was genuinely interested in understanding the situation there and understanding solutions from the vantage point of the men and women who do the job."

On stopping illegal immigration
"Turn off the magnets? I can't claim credit for inventing the phrase. . . . Sanctuary cities, and anything that encourages people to remain in the United States in violation of the immigration laws, is going to serve as an incentive for them. We liken it to a store giving away goods at a grand opening. People are going to come because you're giving something away, be it social services, healthcare, education, or just turning a blind eye to the fact that people are in violation of the laws, people are going to gravitate to those cities. . . . Counterintuitively, it's not so much what you do at the border, but what you do in the interior of the United States to discourage people from crossing in the first place."

Lynn Savage, 54

A Wolfeboro, N.H., classroom assistant who works with special-needs children.

She gave Republican John McCain a bracelet with the name of her son, Army Corporal Matthew J. Stanley, 22, who was killed last December by a roadside bomb in Iraq. McCain mentions the family to push for keeping US troops in Iraq.

McCain speech, Iowa, Sept. 12
"She took the microphone and she said, 'Sir, my son, Matthew Stanley, was killed in Baghdad just before Christmas last year. Would you do me the honor of wearing the bracelet with his name on it?' And I told her I would, that I'd be honored to do so. And I also told her that I would do everything in my power to make sure that her son's sacrifice was not in vain. . . . And I will do everything in my power, no matter what it costs me politically, in order to make sure that we make these young people safe and those who have given with such great sacrifice and honor, both killed and wounded, the honor that they deserve to make sure that we do carry out the mission and successfully complete it."

Savage on McCain
"He said I was the bravest woman he knew, but that's not true. He has children in the military, too. He's very appreciative of my son's sacrifice. . . . He's honest, I believe, very honest. If people are going to vote for him, they will vote for him whether he mentions my son's name or not. He's just doing what I hoped he'd do, making sure people never forget. . . . I'm a registered Democrat. I still haven't made a decision, and I probably won't till the very end."

On the war
"Since my son has passed away, I've changed my thoughts about the war. He was on a mission and he was proud of what he was doing, and that mission needs to be finished. I can't find that in a Democrat yet. But time will tell, things will change."

Pauline Beck, 61

Home care worker from Alameda, Calif.

She spent a day with Democrat Barack Obama, eating breakfast with him and having him help care for an 86-year-old patient. Obama mentions Beck to illustrate the plight of low-wage workers.

Obama speech, Columbus, Ohio, Oct. 26
"Listening to this humble woman talk about the hardships of her life, without a trace of self-pity, just glad to be of some service to somebody, just hoping that, maybe, she could get a little more pay to help with those two foster kids, just hoping maybe she could get a little more security in her retirement, hoping that, maybe, she could get a day off once in a while, just to rest some tired feet, I was reminded about why I had gotten into politics over 20 years ago. There are millions of people all across America, all across Ohio, right here in Columbus, who work hard, every single day, like Ms. Beck, trying to raise their families. . . . But they haven't seen their wages go up. They've seen their costs go up, but not their incomes go up. They're struggling."

Beck on Obama
"You know, if he becomes president, that's going to be one of his priorities, to make sure we get a decent living wage. . . . It was just like he was part of the family. He just gave you the feeling that you've been knowing him all your life. . . . I do want to go out and campaign for him, but I just can't at this particular time, but when I can, I'll be there. He's got all my family members' votes - even the ones that haven't voted a day in their life."

On being a homecare worker
"I love my work . . . but we've got to look elsewhere for more money. I got another job on the side and we go to the food bank sometimes for necessities, but I love my work."

James Lowe, 51

Disabled coal miner from Wise, Va.

He could not afford an operation to fix his speech-limiting cleft palate until a rural medical clinic arranged free surgery last year. Democrat John Edwards mentions him to show the need for universal healthcare.

Edwards speech, South Carolina, Aug. 30
"He lived for five decades in America not able to speak because he didn't have the healthcare he deserved. And he was all humble and noble and very kind about all of it. He reminded me so much of the people that I grew up with here in South Carolina and in North Carolina. But the truth of the matter is, I felt outrage. Because it is not OK that somebody like James Lowe lives in America not able to speak because they have no healthcare because the drug companies and insurance companies are running this country. When are we actually going to stand up to these people? When are we going to stand up for people like James Lowe, who deserve a president who actually believes in them?"

Lowe on Edwards
"He does care for the needy people and that makes me feel good that he does care for me. And that makes me feel like a person. It really does. . . . I'm just a simple man. I don't have no education or nothing and it is really an honor. And me and my wife and all my family and her family, we're all voting for Mr. Edwards. No doubt."

On living 50 years with a cleft palate
"It was a shame. And I tell you, if there's anybody in this world that has little children that has problems like that, help them now. And if you don't, their life is going to be miserable. . . . American people and the United States need healthcare and they need it bad."

Pauline F. Kenick, 98

Retired nurse in Wilton, N.H.

She met Democrat Hillary Clinton at a campaign stop and chatted about old age. Clinton mentions her among elderly women who were born before women had the right to vote, but now could help make history by electing her as the first female president.

Clinton speech, Vinton, Iowa, Nov. 19
"A couple of weeks ago in New Hampshire, a woman said, 'I'm 98 years old, this will probably be my last election, we need to hurry up.' And I said, 'I don't know, I may need you for my reelection.' And she said, 'Well, my doctor just put in a new pacemaker, and she says it's good for seven years.' "

Kenick on Clinton
"I told her she would probably be the last president I would be voting for. I wished I would be around to vote for her reelection. . . . She radiated confidence listening to me. . . . There wasn't any of the other guys that I would vote for. A couple of them I wouldn't vote for for dog catcher. I felt she was the best qualified.

On having a female president
"I think we're ready. Some of the men we've had have let us down. I like her for what she is and what's she's for. I don't think the sex is material at all. . . . I read faithfully about the Clintons, just as I read faithfully about Queen Elizabeth since she was a child. I've been in her camp a long time."

MICHAEL LEVENSON and MARCELLA BOMBARDIERI