Former U.S. Secretary of State Powell endorses Obama
Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell announced Sunday that he will be voting for Barack Obama, citing the Democrat's "ability to inspire" and the "inclusive nature of his campaign."
"He has both style and substance. I think he is a transformational figure," Powell, a Republican, said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
"Obama displayed a steadiness. Showed intellectual vigor. He has a definitive way of doing business that will do us well," he said.
Powell, a retired U.S. general and a Republican, was once seen as a possible presidential candidate himself.
He said he questioned Republican presidential nominee John McCain's judgment in picking Sarah Palin as his running mate because he doesn't think she is ready to be president.
Obama also said he was disappointed with some of McCain's campaign tactics, such as bringing up Obama's ties to former 1960sradical Bill Ayers.
Powell served as secretary of state under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005.
美國(guó)前國(guó)務(wù)卿鮑威爾19日宣布,他將在今年的總統(tǒng)選舉中把選票投給民主黨總統(tǒng)候選人奧巴馬。
鮑威爾當(dāng)天在全國(guó)廣播公司的“與媒體見(jiàn)面”節(jié)目中說(shuō),他認(rèn)為奧巴馬具有當(dāng)總統(tǒng)的風(fēng)度和實(shí)力、沉穩(wěn)明智、年富力強(qiáng),而且將是一名變革型領(lǐng)袖。
鮑威爾是共和黨人,曾任美軍參謀長(zhǎng)聯(lián)席會(huì)議主席,2001年出任國(guó)務(wù)卿,2004年12月因與副總統(tǒng)切尼、時(shí)任國(guó)防部長(zhǎng)拉姆斯菲爾德等政見(jiàn)不合而辭職。
過(guò)去2周來(lái),奧巴馬在總體民調(diào)和關(guān)鍵州民調(diào)中的支持率均穩(wěn)居領(lǐng)先地位,他的優(yōu)勢(shì)似在逐步擴(kuò)大。