Obama promises universal health care by end of first term

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama, seeking support from labor union members in New Jersey, vowed Monday to make health insurance available to all Americans by the end of his first term in the White House.

''We can have universal health care by the end of the next president's first term, by the end of my first term,'' Obama said, bringing 600 union workers to their feet during a question-and-answer session with members of AFL-CIO affiliated unions.

The discussion was part of the labor organizations' presidential endorsement process, and Obama used much of it to pitch his plan to bring health insurance to the 45 million Americans who lack it.

''This is an issue whose time has come,'' the Illinois senator said.

Sharon Masino, a card dealer since 1984 at Caesars casino in Atlantic City, told Obama dealers there decided to unionize recently in part to oppose a new health care plan she said would have cost her $20,000 per year to help treat her ill husband.

''I would not be able to provide for my family,'' the mother of four said.

Obama said affordable health insurance can be funded by saving $75 billion per year through having more people use regular doctor checkups instead of more expensive emergency room visits, improving treatment of chronic illnesses and relying more on technology to reduce paperwork.

He said medical records can be put onto a digital chip that can be carried around on a key chain, for instance.

''If the credit card company can do it, I don't know why the medical system can't do it,'' Obama said.

If those moves aren't enough, he said he would support rolling back tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.

The discussion came after the Illinois senator received the backing of two prominent New Jersey mayors: Newark's Cory Booker and Jersey City's Jerramiah Healy.

Several other high-ranking Democrats in New Jersey have endorsed other presidential candidates. Senate President Richard J. Codey is supporting former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, while Gov. Jon S. Corzine and Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr. have endorsed New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Obama acknowledged strong competition.

''We're all on the same team and we're trying out for quarterback,'' Obama said. ''We've got some terrific candidates.''

Booker has been linked with Obama as part of a new generation of black leaders.

''Barack Obama is expanding a vision for America that's inclusive, that's exciting, that's innovative, that's competitive,'' Booker said.

Obama also said he won't take the black vote for granted.

''I expect to have to earn it,'' Obama said. ''I think that the African-American community is sophisticated, like any group of voters, and they're going to make up their minds based on whether they think I have the leadership capacity and the agenda that's going to make their lives better.'' AP