Whom the Candidates Listen to on Immigration

Clinton

The daughter of migrant farmworkers, Maria Echaveste became the first Latino deputy chief of staff under President Bill Clinton and is now a member of Hillary Clinton's National Hispanic Leadership Council. Clinton also looks to a sympathetic voice for immigrants, Cuban-American Sen. Bob Menendez, a Democrat who has slammed proposals that lessen the importance of family ties in immigration policy.

Obama

The senior vice president for Hispanic civil rights group National Council of La Raza, Cecilia Mu ñ oz has advised the Obama campaign on immigration. She gained prominence for leading the successful charge against a Clinton-era rule that slashed food stamps and welfare to legal immigrants. Obama also looks to Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy, who led his party on immigration reform.

McCain

Cuban-born gop Sen. Mel Martinez's support for the McCain-Kennedy bill and his endorsement of McCain's presidential run mean his opinions and policy positions carry weight with campaign staffers. gop Sen. Lindsey Graham, who fiercely defended McCain's bill, is also an ally. He earned attack-dog repute by confronting Obama over an amendment that threatened to upend the compromise.