Hot topics such as immigration, border security and NAFTA are missing on the presidential campaign trail even before the economy took over as the dominant issue.

It's the last push as early voting begins in El Paso. Information about the presidential candidates' positions on border issues is scarce on the campaign trail.

"I watched the debates, and I didn't really get like a lot of information on that at all. So I have no idea," said Cassandra Salas, voter.

Since winning their party's nomination, neither candidate has talked much about escalating drug violence in Mexico, NAFTA or the controversial border fence.

"Nobody addresses that issue. Nobody wants to say, 'Hey why are we doing this?'" said Walter Dueck, voter.

They're hush-hush on the hot button issue -- immigration.

"The candidates understand that Hispanics are very sensitive about the issue of immigration and the border and they're not going to address this issue," said Luis Payan, UT-El Paso political science professor.

This campaign season, both presidential candidates have made a strategic decision not to discuss controversial issues like immigration, cross-border trade or the border fence. The goal of course is to build common ground rather that split the vote.

Even among party loyalists there's deep disagreement.

"Of course that's of immediate concern since this is our location so it would be nice to hear sometime in the near future," said Michelle Palmer, voter.

So while voters in border states hope to learn more before casting a ballot, in this close race, the candidates are likely to keep quiet.

Both senators John McCain and Barack Obama supported the border fence, and both candidates also voted for the Merida plan to aid Mexico in the fight against drug trafficking.

To learn more on their positions, you have to search the candidates' websites.