"There you go," Lopez replies. "Remember to go vote sir! You take care, and hey, God bless."

Latino Voters

Later that day, on the east side of town, Ronnie Najarro, 37, bears a message tailored to Latino voters. Najarro is with the Libre Initiative, a newer Koch-funded group that focuses on this growing, and mostly Democratic, slice of the electorate.

At one home, a woman in a Starbucks apron recognizes Najarro. She was one of hundreds of Las Vegans who took a free class from Libre to get a state-issued driver authorization card. Libre also hands out backpacks for schoolkids each September. The aim is to build trust with the Latino community, while pitching the Kochs’ philosophy of free markets and limited government.

At another door not far away, a man named Alejandro, in socks and a "Just Do It" T-shirt, tells Najarro he’ll probably vote Democrat in the Senate race. He sounds less certain after Najarro reads from a script that points out Cortez Masto’s opposition to a state school-choice initiative.

"For president, I believe Hillary Clinton would be better for this country," Alejandro says finally. "For the rest, I want to go and see."

Democrats are hoping that Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric about Mexicans will inspire record turnout among Latinos, who already make up almost one-fifth of the state’s electorate.

They’re getting a push from Soros, a billionaire New York investor and longtime Democratic donor. Last week, a super-PAC he helps fund known as Immigrant Voters Win gathered three dozen canvassers in an office building west of the Las Vegas Strip for a pep talk. A super-PAC official, Francisco Morales, told the group that a poll showing a close presidential race in Nevada assumed that Latinos will make up 18 percent of the electorate.

"How many of you think Latinos are going to turn out in record numbers because of the racism and bigotry of Donald Trump?" he asked. Virtually all the hands shot up. "We think with your help we’re going to break that number. Make it 20 or 21 or even 19 percent. That basically means you’ve won."

Recruiting Friends