Colin Powell openly supports Barack Obama

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell says he is voting for Barack Obama. (source: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/19/colin.powell/index.html)

The most recent news in the presidential race? Colin Powell, former Secretary of State, has publicly endorsed candidate Barack Obama. Last Sunday, Powell announced on NBC that he plans to vote for Obama in the election, and praised Obama's character and ability to serve. CNN reports that Powell feels that both Obama and McCain are qualified to be president, but that Obama will bring change to the country that it desperately needs. Powell also commented on the ugliness of McCain's campaign, specifically about its "attempts to tie Obama to former 1960s radical Bill Ayers." (CNN) He believes it was too harsh and too narrow, and that it was unnecessary.
The kicker? If you didn't know, Colin Powell is a Republican. Obama is a Democrat.

Powell's endorsement may also sway some voters who were hesitant to vote for Obama because they felt he was not ready to be the nation's commander in chief, said Bill Schneider, a CNN senior political analyst.

"It was extremely reassuring for this experienced military leader, a general, someone who is chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was secretary of state, to endorse Barack Obama and say, 'His world experience, his commitment and knowledge of national security are fine. You can vote for him without those kinds of reservations,' " Schneider said.

Doesn't seem to be much story-spinning here. The endorsement of Obama by a prominent member of the Republican party is creating quite the stir.

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"Colin Powell endorses Obama." CNN.com. 20 Oct 2008. CNN. 21 Oct 2008 <http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/19/colin.powell/index.html>.