Colin Powell Endorses Obama By Greg Sargent - October 19, 2008, 9:19AM
He just announced it on Meet the Press. More soon. Late Update: Powell elaborated on his decision in a Q-and-A with reporters moments ago. He said he'd concluded that we need a "fresh set of ideas" and a "fresh set of eyes." While he praised McCain's "maverick" ways, he added: "I think we need more than that," asserting that we need a "generational change" in leadership. Powell said he'd arrived at his decision within the past couple of months. Notably, he specified that "decisions that came out of the conventions" played a role in his decision, strongly suggesting that McCain's choice of Sarah Palin cost McCain the chance of Powell's support. Also interesting was Powell's claim that the two men's response to the economic response played a role. He said that gave him an opportunity to evaluate the two men's "judgment" and way of "approaching a problem." He praised Obama's "calm, patient, intellectual, steady approach to problem solving." Late Late Update: Looks like McCain's robo-sliming didn't help matters much -- Powell also said on Meet the Press that they'd "gone too far." http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/breaking_colin_powell_endorses.php http://tinyurl.com/5q4jo7