Colin Powell edging closer to Barack Obama?
As the general election campaign evolves, retired Gen. Colin Powell may be assuming the role that Al Gore occupied during the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination -- the big "get," the 
potential endorser whose backing would cause quite a stir.
Gore, of course, never did choose sides; he bestowed his formal embrace on Barack Obama after Hillary Clinton had conceded the race.
But Powell has given indications that he will make a public pick. And speculation that he's leaning toward Obama is sure to go up a notch with word from the National Journal's "Hotline on Call" that the two met privately two weeks ago in Powell's office in Alexandria, Va.
The Hotline item reported that a Powell spokeswoman said that the tete-a-tete occurred June 18 and lasted about an hour.
The Powell aide, Peggy Cifrino, termed it "an informal conversation" and added, "There’s no looming endorsement. They came to talk about issues."
Cifrano also noted that her boss had met with John McCain a week earlier. But news of the Powell/Obama chat comes on the heels of a Robert Novak column opining that President Bush's former secetary of State "probably will enter Obama's camp at a time of his own choosing."
-- Don Frederick
Photo credit: Canadian Press
Don Frederick has served as an editor helping guide coverage of every presidential election since 1984. He is a third-generation Washingtonian, so watching the political world comes naturally to him.
Andrew Malcolm's immigrant parents repeatedly stressed the importance of active participation in a democracy. Early lessons included learning the alphabetical list of states by watching televised roll calls of national political conventions. That childhood exposure led to a lifelong fascination with politics, including 40-plus years of covering them and a brief stint practicing them as press secretary to Laura Bush in 1999-2000.
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To heck with an endorsement. Obama/Powell could be an incredibly powerful ticket if people could get past the WMD issue.
Posted by: LCrawf | July 01, 2008 at 03:23 PM
Since, Powell is kneely aware of the lies of Bush, and that the war in Iraq was not justified by an invasion of American Forces. Powell does not have a choice except to back Obama, or not back anyone at all. Powell, of all people, knows the irrogance and arrorgance of Bush.
Posted by: Mim | July 01, 2008 at 03:38 PM
who cares, we all know that we can't trust him not to lie
Posted by: richard houghtaling | July 01, 2008 at 05:11 PM
Obama needs as many republicans as possible in his goverment to build a political change in this country which will last for the generations to come.
Posted by: maz hess | July 02, 2008 at 01:40 AM
Now watch the NeoCon phony Republicans scramble to trash Powell's reputation, too. Don't be surprised when they devalue HIS service to his country, just like Clark. Don't think about the fact that two very experienced and effective commanders might have an opinion, because nothing can be allowed to diminish the Son of Privilege John McCain's claim to greatness. Feel free to insult the military service of anyone not backing the NeoCon agenda, though. That's just fine.
First the message was: If you served in the military, great, but if you didn't you have no right to criticize the NeoCons and if you do you're not a Patriot and you hate America.
Then it was: Only people that served in combat REALLY had the right to criticize NeoCon policy. (This is because none of the core NeoCons ever served in combat, most of them never served at all, so they were ashamed to publicly draw attention to their cowardice)
Now we have arrived at: Even those who have served with distinction and courage, charged into danger, were wounded in battle, and have long careers of effective leadership are not allowed to speak unless they lick the shoes of the treacherous and foolhardy gang of criminals that have sold We the People down the river. Only NeoCon bootlickers should be allowed to speak freely in this great land of the free. It makes me ashamed that even one of my fellow Americans would tolerate it.
Posted by: David | July 02, 2008 at 08:00 AM
I am all for Obama/Powell! I'm already an Obama supporter, but throw Powell in the mix and I'm not moving ever! He's just what Obama needs. I can go for Powell, Kaine, Webb, Richardson, or Nunn. He needs whatever they have. No matter who he chooses, I will still vote Obama.
Obama 08!!!!!!
Posted by: Vegas | July 05, 2008 at 04:55 PM