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October 19, 2008

General Powell endorses Obama, questions Palin choice

From Politico via Yahoo,

Retired General Colin L. Powell, one of the country's most respected Republicans, stunned both parties on Sunday by strongly endorsing Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for president on NBC's "Meet the Press" and laying out a blistering, detailed critique of the modern GOP.

Powell said the election of Obama would "electrify the world."

"I think he is a transformational figure," Powell said. "He is a new generation coming ... onto the world stage and on the American stage. And for that reason, I'll be voting for Senator Barack Obama."

As a key reason, Powell said: "I would have difficult with two more conservative appointments to the Supreme Court, but that's what we'd be looking at in a McCain administration."

I can't find any direct opinion polling on Colin Powell done since 2005. But I can't think of a reason why it'd be any lower and he closed out just under 70% even after having been hung out to dry by the Bush administration which he'd so dutifully served. At the very least it would appear that Powell probably outpolls McCain, whom he has historically outpolled on favorability ratings. It's a bit harder to compare him to Obama because there isn't as much historical material from which to tease trends. I wouldn't be surprised if Powell outpolled Obama if there was up to date polling on him.

Powell also rejected Sarah Palin as unready to be President.

Powell said that he is "troubled" by the direction of the Republican Party, and said he began to doubt Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) when he chose Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.

"Not just small towns have values," he said, responding to one of Palin's signature lines.

"She's a very distinguished woman, and she's to be admired," he said. "But at the same, now that we have had a chance to watch her for some seven weeks, I don't believe she's ready to be president of the United States, which is the job of the vice president. And so that raised some question in my mind as to the judgment that Senator McCain made."

So, what do you think of this endorsement? Does it change your opinion? Confirm it? Have no effect on it?

As a former Republican I strongly agreed with Powell's comments about the narrowing of the GOP and in particular the latent bigotry which has bubbled to the surface lately. Powell also strongly rejected the Ayers/Obama cannard being used by Sarah Palin and the McCain campaign, which I also agree with him about.

Posted by Kevin at October 19, 2008 09:28 AM