Americans are about to vote in what many consider the most important election since the Vietnam era. They will cast their ballots Tuesday with the hope that the next president will move forward with the leadership and steady hand that uncertain times require.

The nation is divided and fearful. We are at war. We face a record $413 billion federal deficit, and in the last four years, we have moved backward on long-standing environmental protections.

Americans must make a choice between President Bush and Sen. John Kerry. This is no easy choice when you size up the monumental divisions that exist in this country, but it is a choice we have to make.

Based on a close look at the candidates' campaigns, debates and records, Kerry comes out ahead as the wiser choice for Vermont.

During the campaign, Kerry was slow to grow into his role of Democratic candidate for president, and his vision was at times unclear. With time, he showed a grasp of complex issues and the ability to sort through ethical and political wickets.

Most of all, he displayed a willingness to choose leadership over empire, to return to America's proud tradition of alliances, coalition-building and diplomacy. Although it is clear that his perspective on Iraq has been a work in progress, in the end, John Kerry is capable of defending this country.

Also highly important to the interests and values of Vermonters is the role Kerry would play in protecting the environment. The senator offers hope that the environment would not be trashed by the kind of rollbacks on pollution controls promoted by the Bush administration.

Since coming into office, Bush has waged a campaign to weaken clean air laws to save power companies billions of dollars. Vermont has fought back. This state and 13 others won a lawsuit against his administration for trying to ease standards that require utilities and smokestack plants to install anti-pollution equipment when they upgrade.

Republican Gov. Jim Douglas has been at odds with the Bush administration's dismantling of environmental protections, including the recent proposal to relax rules on mercury emissions from power plants. When one-third of the nation's lakes and nearly one-quarter of its rivers are contaminated with enough mercury to cause health problems, aggressive action must be taken.

On the environment, Kerry is the hands-down choice. He led the fight to stop the administration from allowing oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He was a co-sponsor of the Clean Power Act, a much-lauded bill introduced by Sen. Jim Jeffords, I-Vt., that would have significantly reduced emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide and mercury from coal-fired power plants. This is pollution that lands directly on Vermont and other downwind states.

Kerry has stood with Vermont on protecting our air and water. As president, he has said he would reverse the administration's rollbacks to the Clean Air Act and he would implement a water restoration program for the nation's waterways, nearly half of which don't meet the standards of the Clean Water Act.

Kerry stood up to powerful interests that would weaken regulatory safeguards. He has acted as a friend to the environment while Bush has been an adversary. States should not have to do battle with the government to defend the environment we share.

As Vermonters go to the polls to choose their president, they must be mindful of the challenges he faces: keeping our guard up against terrorism; leading this country out of Iraq and maintaining a sense of peace there; strengthening the economy; and protecting the environment.

Next Tuesday provides a difficult choice for many.

John Kerry is up to the task.