McCain's and Palin's qualities are obvious John McCain and Sarah Palin have a record of reform, and they're not afraid to fight for the people of the United States. That is exactly what we need right now. If Barack Obama is elected, the coming years will go down in history as a period worse than the Great Depression. The United States will no longer be a place for freedom. Obama wants to give lazy people free money and take it from those who choose to work -- sometimes two or even three jobs -- in order to make it in life. I do not think people in Minnesota are blinded by the fact that McCain is a Republican. His abilities and skills to handle all aspects of the presidency are very apparent. And by the way, character does count, and Obama's is not very good. Why didn't he give the money back from his campaign if he really cared that it came from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Palin is just like three-quarters of the people in this country. That's why Obama and his team are having such a difficult time -- she understands what most of us are and what we have gone through.

JULI SMITH, CHANHASSEN

It's all about character -- and vision I endorse Obama, of course! He's energetic, intelligent and altruistic, with a broad vision for humankind. Compare him with McCain, who would do little more than grind down a couple of the rough edges on our cumbersome, ineffectual old government and call it "change." McCain's dubious character was formed back during a youth of privileged irresponsibility (pretty much as George W. Bush's was) and was demonstrated later by his greedy, self-serving activities as a member of the Keating Five. He doesn't really give a rat's patootie about the common man. Let's think young and vigorous, like those good old days of our government's founding fathers. Which man would you rather have today writing a Declaration of Independence or a U.S. Constitution?

TOM CAMFIELD, PORT TOWNSEND, WASH.

When you come to a fork in the road, take it! I endorse Barack Obama. Do I love him? Am I sure he will turn things around? Do I trust the Congress? No, no and no. But we have been on this road a long time. Hidden, self-serving agendas. Tax cuts for the wealthy to "stimulate the economy" that just lead to mergers and layoffs. Trade agreements, subsidies and signing statements, all leading to a business climate that rewards capital but is devastating to ordinary workers. A health-care system run by and for the insurance and drug industries. Energy policy made by energy companies. We did not get to this point in America by some strange series of accidents. Policies matter. Tax policy, trade policy, foreign policy. Our government has not acted in our best interests. We need balance. We need to return to sanity. I am not sure that Democrats will do it, but I am dead-certain that Republicans won't. I don't think they really deserve another chance, at least not now.

BRUCE BLEVINS, FALCON HEIGHTS

No good choice for the economy I am not a huge proponent of either candidate; however, I would endorse John McCain if given the opportunity. I am convinced that both candidates know very little about economics and know very little about business. In any event, I think it is a very scary thought that a Democratic majority in Congress could serve under a Democratic president. That is not the scenerio that the fathers of the economy had in mind. There will be no checks and balances, and the momentum of the liberal agenda will be difficult to reverse. Getting down to specifics, I am very opposed to raising the taxes of individuals and families with incomes over $250,000. The top 10 wealthiest percent of the population pays 90 percent of our taxes, and the top 1 percent of our population pays 40 percent of our taxes. Why on earth would we want to burden these folks with more taxes? They already give 37 percent of their checks away every pay cycle, and now we are going to tax the biggest spenders and the biggest stimulators of our economy more. That just doesn't make sense.

BRANDON SCHUH, ST. LOUIS PARK

Principled versus erratic I endorse and will vote for Barack Obama. This past month has shown why this is the right choice. When the financial crisis hit, Obama issued a set of principles that would need to be in any rescue bill and worked with leaders in Washington to make it happen, without making a big fuss about it. McCain, on the other hand, was erratic, suspending his campaign, then unsuspending it for the debate with nothing solved. He took credit for the first bill before the House GOP killed it, then blamed Obama. Real change will require a cool head and steady hand, and Obama has shown that he's the candidate who fits the bill.

CHRIS OIEN, ST. PAUL

Respect for the Constitution I want a president like Obama will be, a president who will refrain from violating essential amendments to the Constitution (and thus our civil rights) in order to further a political agenda; one who will not ever again instigate an illegal, immoral war and occupation of another country; one who will consult with others before flying off the handle with poorly considered decisions, and one who is smart -- including being smart enough, doggone it, to pick a running mate who is qualified to be president.

BERNICE VETSCH, ST. PAUL