Powell endorses Obama: racial or political?

Barack Obama received what many regard as his most stirring endorsement yet when Colin Powell, a Republican and George W Bush's first Secretary of State, said he would support the Democratic candidate. "I think we need a transformational figure," Powell told NBC yesterday. "I think we need a president who is a generational change and that's why I'm supporting Barack Obama."

Such an endorsement from a distinguished former general particularly improves Obama's otherwise weak foreign policy credentials, reports Stephen Ohlemacher for AP, who also calls Powell's support a "stunning rejection" for the Republican candidate John McCain.

But Powell was also critical of McCain's choice of Sarah Palin for vice presidential candidate. "I don't believe she's ready to be president of the United States," he declared.

It's a nightmare situation for the Republicans, says Michael Tomasky of the Guardian. "For two days - and every day is crucial when there are only 15 left - McCain's minions will have to answer questions on television about how big a blow this is to their man's chances."

Predicting on Friday - as most observers did - that Powell would endorse Obama, Tomasky pointed out in a video blog that Powell's support for Obama would be partly selfish. "Colin Powell's big project over the next few years will be to try and wash his hands of the Iraq war and the case for the Iraq war," he said, recalling how Powell lied during the weapons of mass destruction saga. "An endorsement of a Democrat who opposed the war might just do that for him [Powell]."

Sam Stein on the Huffington Post takes issue with those media commentators who feel that Powell's vote for Obama is a demonstration of racial rather than political solidarity of the less experienced candidate. They should remember, says Stein, that "Powell has, in the past, endorsed a "white man" who was described as inexperienced - George W Bush in 2000.

Andrew Sullivan writing for The Atlantic suggests Powell's decision is indicative of a wider sentiment in the Republican party. "Powell's endorsement of Obama is privately echoed by many moderate Republicans across the country and in Washington," he says. "It isn't about race. It's about the need to remake conservatism anew, and to restore to fiscal and foreign policy the kind of conservative prudence and restraint of Eisenhower."

"In politics, timing is everything," says Chris Cillizza on the Washington Post, "and Powell's endorsement comes at a sweet spot for Obama... Did we mention the election is in 16 days?"

FIRST POSTED OCTOBER 20, 2008