I am not normally of the view that endorsements mean much in Presidential politics. But Colin Powell's endorsement of Obama today is a real sledgehammer blow to the already staggering McCain campaign. Not just because a Powell endorsement shores up Obama's shaky foreign policy bona fides, but even more because of the content of Powell's remarks on Meet the Press. The General showed he still knows how to launch a brutal offense. Powell's remarks were an across the board indictment of the McCain campaign. He threw a subtly delivered but perfectly targeted series of chops at each of the the major fractures of the shaky McCain campaign; the Palin choice, the dark tone of the campaign, the Helter Skelter antics at the onset of the economic crisis. As a great McCain admirer, I am sad to say it, but the truth is the video of Powell's endorsement will boil across You Tube and do great damage in these closing days of the campaign.

Colin Powell spoke in his MTP interview of being moved by a photo essay he saw in a magazine:

It was a photo essay about troops who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. And one picture at the tail end of this photo essay was of a mother in Arlington Cemetery, and she had her head on the headstone of her son's grave. And as the picture focused in, you could see the writing on the headstone. And it gave his awards--Purple Heart, Bronze Star--showed that he died in Iraq, gave his date of birth, date of death. He was 20 years old. And then, at the very top of the headstone, it didn't have a Christian cross, it didn't have the Star of David, it had crescent and a star of the Islamic faith. And his name was Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, and he was an American. He was born in New Jersey. He was 14 years old at the time of 9/11, and he waited until he can go serve his country, and he gave his life. Now, we have got to stop polarizing ourself in this way.

Here's more about that young man, who was killed with three other soldiers on Aug. 6, 2007, at Baqubah, Iraq:

(more...)

Colin Powell today announced on NBC’s Meet the Press he’s crossing party lines and to become the highest-ranking Republican to endorse Barack Obama.

The former general and secretary of state under President Bush said that after following the race closely for the last two months, he was left troubled by the McCain’s handling of the economic crisis, his pick of Sarah Palin as his running mate and his attacks on Obama’s relationship to 60s domestic terrorist William Ayers.

On the economy:

I must say, [McCain] seemed a little unsure about how to approach the problem," Powell said. "He didn't have a complete grasp of the economic problems we have."

On Sarah Palin:

“I don't believe she's ready to be President of the United States, which is the job of vice president," Powell said. He added that it raised "some questions in my mind" about McCain's judgment.

On the Ayers robocalls:

“I think this goes too far. I think it's made the McCain campaign look a little narrow. I look at these kinds of approaches to the campaign, and they trouble me. The party has moved further to the right," Powell said.

McCain, appearing on Fox News Sunday, replied:

“I’ve always admired and respected General Powell, we’re long time friends,” McCain said, appearing in Ohio. “This doesn’t come as a surprise but I’m also very pleased to have the endorsement of four secretaries of state, Secretaries Kissinger, Baker, Eagleburger and Haig, and I’m proud to have the endorsement of well over 200 retired generals and admirals. I respect and continue to admire Secretary Powell.”

Though Powell said he would not campaign for Obama, the endorsement - much sought after by both campaigns - of the man who many on both sides believe could have been the first black president, gives the Obama campaign a perfect rejoinder to Joe Lieberman’s endorsement of John McCain. As Brit Hume noted, appearing on Fox News Sunday after McCain, Powell helps reassure Independents who still might be worried about Obama’s foreign policy chops:

“I think it probably helps with Independents who regard Colin Powell as the essence of a citizen soldier, and as the model African American success story, as a man of moderate outlook and temperament,” Hume said. “His endorsement will probably help to solidify Independents who were a little concerned about Obama.”

Update:
Commentator sgwhiteinfla points out that Powell is much harsher in an impromptu press conference outside NBC's offices.
And (for you, lp1), Powell called Obama a "transformational figure," who has "a definite way of doing business that will serve us well."

Update2:
Here is a full transcript of the interview.

For weeks, rumors have been circulating of an astonishing total, and indeed it was--more than double the record $67 million the campaign raised in August. This email from Obama Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer:

Obama for America Campaign Manager David Plouffe sent an email to our supporters this morning to announce our September fundraising numbers. In the month of September, we raised over $150 million and added 632,000 new donors for a total 3.1 million donors to date. The average donation for the month was less than $100. The average contribution for the campaign is $86.