Lois Quam: Why I, a Clinton supporter, will vote for Barack Obama

I was a strong supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton throughout the Democratic primaries.

As a woman, I am moved by her strength and courage in pounding 18 million cracks in that highest, hardest glass ceiling. As an American, I am inspired by her courage, passion and leadership.

And like Clinton, and the overwhelming majority of her supporters, I will vote for Barack Obama in November.

I support Obama because this country cannot endure four more years of the policies that have left us less safe in the world and suffering from a punishing economic downturn.

I support Obama because he has the judgment, the vision and the leadership to stand up for middle-class Minnesotans who are completely ignored by John McCain's "vision" for America.

And there are many more like me. This election is far too important to let slip away. McCain would be a disaster for America -- and specifically, for American women.

The idea that there is a cadre of Clinton supporters who will decide to choose more of the same failed policies by backing McCain simply isn't true. I have talked to my fellow Clinton supporters. We had a hard-fought primary, but today we are united behind Obama.

We support Obama because, as Clinton herself has said, he is ready to take on the serious challenges facing this country. He will stand up for working Minnesotans and end the war in Iraq safely and responsibly.

Obama has fought tirelessly on behalf of equal pay for women in the workplace. He was a cosponsor of the most critical equal pay legislation in the Senate this year, a bill that would have protected a woman's right to fight for equal pay in court. McCain opposed the bill.

McCain's failure on equal pay reflects his lengthy record of contempt for issues of grave importance to women. While we have come a long way as a country, there is overwhelming evidence that pay discrimination still exists, evidence that shows women make only 77 cents for every dollar that men make for the same work. But when asked why he didn't support equal pay, McCain answered that women just need better education and training -- even though women, on average, achieve higher levels of education than men.

One of the most critical issues that Clinton has advocated throughout her career is health care. McCain's health-care plan would offer a continuation of the failed Bush policies that have done nothing to insure the 19 million uninsured women in this country. Under Obama, we will work so that every single American will have access to affordable health care for the first time in history.

While there were many of us who supported Hillary Clinton, there is only one person left in the race who will carry the torch on issues important to women -- Barack Obama.