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Colin Powell Can't Find Reason To Endorse McCain; Waiting For the Debates

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That comment was from "a source close" to Powell. Powell has made his own comments, saying he wants to see what happens when they "get into issues."

It should be interesting, and I do think that what he says when he endorses will have the power to sway undecideds. Not because he is soooo trustworthy - he lost that quality to many people when he lied at the UN - but because they will be well-reasoned comments.

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Powell still undecided, says Obama win would be 'electrifying'
Posted: 06:07 AM ET

Powell, a Republican, has said he may not back the GOP pick this cycle.
(CNN) — Former Bush Secretary of State Colin Powell said Monday that he has not yet decided which candidate to back in this year’s presidential race.

The election of an African-American president “would be electrifying,” Powell told a George Washington University audience, “but at the same time [I have to] make a judgment here on which would be best for America.

“I have been watching both individuals, I know them both extremely well, and I have not decided who I am going to vote for. And I'm interested to see what the debates are going to be like because we have to get off of this ‘lipstick on a pig’ stuff and get into issues,” he said.

Powell's full comments will air on “The Next President: A World of Challenges” this Saturday night at 9pm ET and again Sunday at 2pm ET.

Last month, as the retired general’s office denied a report that he had decided to publicly back Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention, several sources told CNN’s John King that Powell was still undecided. “As always, he is holding his cards close and waiting for more information," one adviser close to Powell told CNN’s John King.

Earlier this year, Powell told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that he was weighing an endorsement of a Democrat or independent candidate. “I am keeping my options open at the moment,” said Powell.


“I have voted for members of both parties in the course of my adult life. And as I said earlier, I will vote for the candidate I think can do the best job for America, whether that candidate is a Republican, a Democrat, or an independent,” he added.

Powell also offered praise for Obama, calling him an “exciting person on the political stage.

“He has energized a lot of people in America,” said Powell, who briefly weighed his own run for the White House in the mid-1990s. “He has energized a lot of people around the world. And so I think he is worth listening to and seeing what he stands for.”

Last month, a Powell adviser told CNN that "he likes and admires John McCain, and that would be a factor in anything he does if he decides to get more involved."

Another source close to Powell said that he has known McCain for more than three decades “and likes him, and is looking for a reason to vote for him. He hasn't found it yet."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/16/powell-still-undecided-says-obama-win-would-be-electrifying-2/#more-18642


Comments (5)

He's a joke to Republicans and a villain to Democrats. Who exactly is the Powell base?

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I think it is the undecideds in the middle, demosaur. I agree that the committed R's and D's are no (longer) fans of his, yet I think a lot of people see his deliberative nature as refreshingly-nonpartisan and commendable.

As for MzTicketyBoo's comment, I agree - I'm guessing Powell is still thinking about the earlier (circa 2000) version of McCain. Pre-2004 sell-my-soul McCain.

Give me a f*cking break - Colin Powell is still LOOKING for a REASON??!! After the very same Neocons he's been running with the past 8 years have thrown him under the bus to essentially cosign this debatched war - HE'S STILL LOOKING FOR A REASON!!?? I can't believe his hesitation.

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Call me crazy, and many have, but I think this is Colin Powell's way of endorsing Obama in a way that won't hurt Obama. If he comes right out and says he endorses him, it's "ho-hum, one black guy supports another black guy, big whoop." So this is as good as it gets, for him NOT to support McCain, but say that Obama would be an electrifying choice. I mean, what part of "electrifying choice" doesn't sound like an endorsement to you?

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Good point, and thanks for the comment.

But, can't you see someone like Powell saying that one would be electrifying, BUT we really need a ???? person in the job.

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