Veteran Hector Mercado, 72, watches the presidential debate in a crowded McAllen, Texas bar Thursday, June 27, 2024. Although he was a Democrat for several years, he switched parties under Reagan. Mercado heard the allegations Biden raised about Trump's derogatory comments about veterans, but it didn't sway his support. "Yea, he said a few things bad about about veterans at one point back in the early days. But now he's saying, no, I back up the veterans and I never had any problems with him. I got a raise in my VA disability when Trump was president," Mercado said, standing by his choice. (AP Photo/Valerie Gonzalez)