Democrat Senator Barack Obama snared the coveted endorsement of former US secretary of state Colin Powell and announced a record fundraising haul, handing another setback to Republican Senator John McCain’s lagging presidential campaign.
The decision by Powell, a Republican who served as US President George W. Bush’s first secretary of state, undermines McCain’s claim that his rival is not ready to be commander-in-chief of the US military. It could help Obama seal the deal with independent and moderate voters concerned about his qualifications.
Obama’s staggering US$150 million in donations last month more than doubles his previous record
‘INACCURATE’
McCain, meanwhile, stumping in swing state Ohio, pushed himself as an advocate of working class Americans and small business owners while asserting that the Illinois senator’s tax plan amounted to socialism.
Powell called McCain’s words “an unfortunate characterization that isn’t accurate” and part of an overly negative campaign by “my beloved friend and colleague John McCain, a friend of 25 years.”
“I think we need a transformational figure. I think we need a president who is a generational change and that’s why I’m supporting Barack Obama, not out of any lack of respect or admiration for Senator John McCain,” Powell said on NBC television.
In addition to criticizing what he said was an overly negative McCain campaign, Powell said the 72-year-old’s running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, was not presidential timber.
“I don’t believe she’s ready to be president of the United States, which is the job of the vice president,” Powell said.
McCain was being interviewed on Fox News as Powell endorsed Obama. He reacted by reminding viewers he had the backing of four former secretaries of state and scores of military leaders.
“We have a respectful disagreement,” he said of Powell.
Powell said he recognized the racial aspect of his endorsement, but said that was not the dominant factor in his decision.
Powell also said he was troubled that some Republicans — he excluded McCain — continue to say or allow others to say that Obama is a Muslim.
RALLY WITH HILLARY
Obama aimed to put another dent in John McCain’s comeback hopes yesterday with a double-bill rally in Florida with ex-foe Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to kick off a frenetic final fortnight of the White House race.
In Florida, Obama and Clinton were to headline a joint rally and several separate events yesterday, pitching for a state that had looked solid for McCain.
Clinton is very popular in Florida and trounced Obama in the primary there, but the contest was declared void after the state violated scheduling rules.
McCain, 72, was meanwhile on the defensive yesterday, attempting to cling onto states that helped send Bush back to the White House in 2004. He was campaigning in midwestern Missouri yesterday.
He will fly on to Pennsylvania, a Democratic state in 2004 and a Republican target this year that now seems clearly tipping toward Obama.
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