Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama speaks in Florida, 20 Sept.

Presidential candidate Barack Obama has addressed issues important to women, as he tries to appeal to a critical voting bloc.

The Democratic senator told a crowd in Florida on Saturday that it is an outrage that women still make 77 cents for every dollar that men make in the United States.  He said his Republican opponent, John McCain, has opposed legislation to help women get equal pay.

He also outlined his support for abortion rights, and promised a plan to provide health insurance for all Americans.

Both Obama and McCain are trying to appeal to women voters, particularly those who supported Senator Hillary Clinton during her run for the Democratic Party presidential nomination.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.