(CNN) – Former Secretary of State Colin Powell announced Sunday that he will be voting for Sen. Barack Obama, citing the Democrat's "ability to inspire" and the "inclusive nature of his campaign."
"I think he is a transformational figure, he is a new generation coming onto the world stage, onto the American stage, and for that reason I'll be voting for Sen. Barack Obama," Powell said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
Powell said he was concerned about what he characterized as a recent negative turn of Republican candidate Sen. John McCain's campaign, such as the campaign's attempts to tie Obama to former 1960s radical Bill Ayers.
Powell, a retired U.S. general and a Republican, was once seen as a possible presidential candidate himself.
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I knew it was coming. Obama's ACE IN THE HOLE.
The Powell endorsement.
It should shut up a lot of GOPers!
I URGE EVERYONE TO WATCH POWELL'S ENTIRE STATEMENT ON YOUTUBE. It really puts this entire campaign into perspective. Well done sir.
Yes We Can!
Excellent choice on General Powell's part. I watched him endorse Obama on Meet the Press. He made a very cogent argument for choosing Obama over McCain.
He is a fine man.. with more clout than President Bush....
I was moved by Colin Powell's approach to the endorsment.. Very clear.
-V
If you like the last: In his autobiography he had promised his wife he would not run. This election has shown me how lazy people are about reading up on the players in the political game. It's like interviewing someone for a job and never reading the resume or checking references. You cant complain if you dont do YOUR homework.
Colin Powell covered all the bases with his decision to endorse Obama. The McCain camp continues to be negative even with the response to Fmr Sec Powell's choice.
To francisco siqueiros:
Isn't that what McCain says he does? He stands up to his party's leadership, does not vote with the party all the time and that makes him someone we can trust right?
So by endorsing Obama...isn't this just showing that Colin Powell is really a maverick? That he is putting country first?
The October surprise... and the final nail.
I think Powell may be correct, the Republican Party seems to want to divide America. We are as Americans at our best when we work together not against each other. I am 50 white and the son of a steel worker that fought in WWII. Now, my father would never vote for Obama but I am not my father.
I'm glad that Powell himself would rather see an America that is United and not Divided. I never thought that I would agree with a Republican, but what he said about why he is voting Obama, I just completely agree with.
I also want to say, Why is it ok for the taxpayer to take on the debt of our country, but it's not ok for a fair tax plan and to redistribute the wealth in our country?
I salute you sir, thanks!
Endorsements to Obama from several prominent Republican figures in recent days, and concerns raised by seveal conservative columnists about McCain campain, reinforces, that common sense in the Republican party is not totally dead after all! Good showing folks.
The reasons General Powell gave for endorsing Senator Obama spoke volumes. He obviously had thought long and hard about this and it was a difficult decision because he likes Senator McCain and has been a Republican for a long time. He obviously put "Country First". He said at the forum of former Secretaries of State that he was waiting until after the debates to make his final decision. Well he must have liked what he saw and heard from Obama. He spoke about several reasons why he made this decision including Obama's steadiness and ability to be Presidential, his ability to improve America's standing in the world, his foreign and economic policies and his substance and intelligence. There are other reasons too but these stood out to me. His reasons for not voting for McCain included his handling of the financial crisis, his VP pick who is not ready to be president, his similar economic and foreign policies to Bush and his disappointment with the kind of negative campaign McCain has been running. It will be interesting to see if the Republicans dare to attack Powell as they have others because he is such a respected and monumental political figure.
Just another sad case of ill-informed decision making. To base your vote on a recent campaign strategy, and then not even explain the strategy accurately just shows me how "out of touch" Powell is with his own base. Ayers is one of MANY examples of shady characters in Obama's past. It's not a true terrorist label being put on Obama, it's that time and again, he has surrounded himself and exposed himself to very "radical" individuals. It a question of character, trust, and judgement. Not to mention Obama is a Chicago Democrat, and that should scare the crap out of the entire world, if he only knew what he is really voting for.
Don't you feel better now Mr. Powell? You should, America needs you and Obama/Biden
We love Powell!! Kudos to you..Its Obama for United States!!
Colin Powell's thoughtful endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for President is so important not only because it comes from someone who is highly respected across the board but because it demonstrates the high caliber of people Obama has surrounding him. It could not have been said better – Obama is the leadership America needs now!
Spin this McCain...Let me guess: THIS IS GREAT NEWS FOR JOHN MCCAIN!!!
This proves how shallow are Powell's values. How can he serve on Bush's cabinet then endorse the candidate who has made his entire campaign on being anti-Bush. This rings very self-serving to me.
My respect for General Powell grew not just with his endorsement but the way in which he went about coming to his decision. He has solidified my decision to support Senator Obama as well.
Kudos General Powel!
Say what ?
He's not endorsing Palin ?!
?????????????????????????????????????????????????????
GEN POWELL ENDORSES SEN OBAMA. WHAT IS IT WORTH?
ONE MAN ONE VOTE, AS FOR THE REST OF US AND COLLECTIVELY THE NEXT PRESIDENT WILL BE CHOSEN.
AMERICA COME NOVEMBER 4,2008 BE YOUR OWN PERSON,
INFORMED AND CAST YOUR VOTE ACCORDIMGLY........!
Just because you are Black does not mean you have to support another Black to be very( BLUNT) Black people have been supporting
white presidents for the last 43 years it is time for a change people.
VOTE OBAMA!
Linda said – "Obama surrounds himself with the best & the brightest." I think that is so true it's worth restating. McCain has not. I am ready for an intelligent forward looking President and Vice President. I'm tired of the "good old boy" concept for our leader. It didn't work nationally or internationally in our best interests. Time for real change. Let's try an intelligent leader for a change.