Colin Powell for Obama

As endorsements go (admittedly more buzz than actual electoral effect) this was the biggest one left:

WASHINGTON (AP) - Former Secretary of State Colin Powell has endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president, describing the Illinois senator as a "transformational figure."

Powell says both Obama and Republican John McCain are qualified to be commander in chief. But, in an interview Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," he said Obama is better suited to handle the nation's economic problems as well as help improve it's standing in the world.

Powell expressed disappointment in the negative tone of McCain's campaign, as well as in his choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as the Republican vice presidential nominee. Powell says he does not believe Palin is ready to take over as president, if necessary

NYT: here

Ambers gathers quotes:

"I think Sen. McCain as gifted as he is, is essentially, going to execute the orthodoxy of the Republican agenda with a new face and a maverick approach to it. I think we need more than that. I think we need a generation change. My sole concern is where are we going after January 20, 2009."

"I'm well aware of the role I played; my role was straightforward. I wanted to avoid a war, and the president agreed with that and tried to go through the UN. And it didn't work, and I supported the president. And it looked great...but then [it went bad] and now it's starting to turn around."

On McCain's ads: "It troubled me. Those kind of images going out on Al-Jazeera are killing us around the world. This business from the congresswoman from Minnesota saying, let's examine all congressman to see who is pro-American or not pro-American."

Excellent, he called out Bachmann too! See here for info on that race and a donation link.

Elwyn Tinklenberg's Kos page is here.

TPM:

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."