>> STANDING ON THE EDGE OF THIS UNFINISHED RAILROAD BRIDGE IN
BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS, YOU CAN SEE ACROSS THE RIO GRAND TO MEXICO.
FOR JOHN WOOD THIS IS A SYMBOL OF HOW LIVES CONNECT ON THE
BORDER.
>> WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS INVESTMENT IN OUR TRADE AND
COMMERCE WITH MEXICO.
WE, WE ARE TIED TOGETHER.
IT'S LIKE A UMBILICAL CORD.
>> TEXAS DOES MORE WITH MEXICO THAN ANY OTHER CONNECTING STATE.
THAT'S WHY THIS ELECTION MEANS AS MUCH TO HIM AS THE BATTLE
BETWEEN OBAMA AND MITT ROMNEY.
WOODS SAYS MEXICO'S NEXT PRESIDENT COULD MAKE THE COUNTRY
STABLE AGAIN.
A CALMER MEXICO WOULD MEAN MORE INVESTMENT AND JOBS IN
BROWNSVILLE.
SOME AMERICANS ON THE BOARD ANSWER A HUGE STAKE IN MEXICO
POLITICS.
THE WOODROW WILSON CENTER SAYS THEY TRADED HALF A MILLION
DOLLARS IN GOODS AND SERVES LAST YEAR.
INVESTMENT FELL OFF DURING THE RESEX BUT HAS STEADILY CLIMBED
BACK.
THEY SAY IT WOULD STRENGTHEN MORE IF MEXICO WOULD SOLVE THEIR
CARTEL PROBLEM.
THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ACCORDING TO DANIEL HONG.
HE OWNS THIS STORE FROM BROWNSVILLE PORT.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF HIS CUSTOMERS ARE FROM MEXICO.
BECAUSE OF THE VIOLENCE ACROSS THE RIO GRAND HIS SALES HAVE
DROPPED 60% IN RECENT YEARS.
>> SIMPLY PIT IF THERE ARE RANDOM OCCURRENCES OF GUNNED
FIRE OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOUSE THAT MAKES YOU LESS INCLINED TO GO
OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOUSE FOR YOUR DAILY DUTIES.
>> THAT MEANS FEWER CUSTOMERS FOR HONG.
ON THE PERSONAL LEVEL HE SUPPORTS A CONTINUATION OF THE∞
WAR OFFENSIVE.
ON A BUSINESS LEVEL HE CAN YOU PORTS THE PRE WHICH HAS RUN
MEXICO FOR 70 YEARS AND RAN RELATIVE PEACE WITH A BLIND EYE
TO THE CARTELS.
>> IF MEXICO'S GO BACK TO THE OLD WAYS "CORRUPTION" GOVERNMENT
POWERS TAKING BRIBES TO MAKE THE DRUGS FLOW FREELY IT WILL KIT
THE VIOLENCE.
>> THERE IS A THIRD CANDIDATE WHO HAS SURGED IN THE POLES IN
RECENT WEEKS AND IS NOW IN SECOND PLACE.
IT'S CLEARLY NOT JUST AMERICAN BORDER BUSINESSES WITH A STAKE
IN THE ELECTION.
IT'S MEXICAN BUSINESSES TOO.
>> THE CITY HERE IS SOUTH OF TEXAS, THE NEIGHBORHOOD I'M IN
NOW USE TO BE A DESTINATION FOR AMERICANS BUT THE ECONOMY AND
SECURITY SITUATION IN MEXICO HAS DONE DAMAGE TO LOCAL BUSINESSES.
BEHIND ME WAS A NIGHTCLUB CALLED THE RED DRAGON TORN DOWN ABOUT A
YEAR AGO.
THE QUESTION IS WILL THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
DO ANYTHING TO HELP MEXICO'S PROBLEMS AND BRING AMERICAN
BUSINESS BACK ACROSS THE BORDER.
>> HERE VIOLENCE AND THE ECONOMIC CRISIS WERE THE FINAL
STRAWS FOR SOME BUSINESSES ALREADY STRUGGLING.
THIS SHOP OWNER SAYS BUSINESS HERE INCLUDING HIS USE TO DEPEND
ALMOST COMPLETELY ON AMERICAN SHOPPERS.
NOW MEXICAN SHOPPERS ARE SLOWLY TRICKLING BACK.
BUSINESS IS NOTHING LIKE IT USE TO BE.
HERNANDEZ SAYS HE FEELS NONE OF THE MEXICAN POLITICAL PARTIES
HAVE A PLAN FOR TACKLING THE COUNTRY'S IN SECURITIES.
>> HE SAYS HE HOPES THE PARTIES WILL TAKE A CLEAR STAND ON THE
ISSUE AND APPROACH IT WITH INTELLIGENCE, COURAGE AND
HEROISM.
THAT'S WHAT MEXICO NEEDS NOW HE SAYS, A HERO.
>> BACK IN THE U.S. PLENTY OF AMERICANS ARE LOOKING FOR A
SOLUTION TO MEXICO'S PROBLEMS TOO.
THEY WANT A MEXICAN PRESIDENT WHO CAN RETURN LIFE ALONG THE
BORDER TO THE WAY IT USE TO BE.
>> REALLY THE ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT IS A REFERENDUM ON WHO
BEST CAN RETURN MEXICO TO NORMAL.
>> ZAVALETA SAYS NORMALLISM IS IMPORTANT TO THE PSYCHE OF THE
BORDER COMMUNITY.
IT'S NOT JUST BUSINESS TIES BUT AMERICANS WHO SEE MEXICO AS A
SECOND HOME WHERE FRIENDS AND FAMILY LIVE.
>> WE LIVE WITH ONE FOOT IN EACH COUNTRY, ALL THE TIME.
I KNOW IT CAN GET BETTER.
WE HAVE TO HOPE THAT THIS ELECTION WILL SET IT ON THE
RIGHT TRACK TO GETTING BETTER.
>> ZAVALETA BELIEVES THE FRONT RUNNER OF THE PRI HAS THE BEST
CHANCE TO BRING THE BORDER BACK TO NORMAL.
AS A AMERICAN HE CAN'T VOTE JULY 1st, BUT HE WILL BE
WATCHING.