Colin Powell Still Undecided
By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, Barack, Independents, McCain
Like many swing voters this election, he’s waiting for the debates.
The election of an African-American president “would be electrifying,” Powell told a George Washington University audience, “but at the same time [I have to] make a judgment here on which would be best for America.“I have been watching both individuals, I know them both extremely well, and I have not decided who I am going to vote for. And I’m interested to see what the debates are going to be like because we have to get off of this ‘lipstick on a pig’ stuff and get into issues,” he said.
I asked it before and I’ll ask it again: is Colin Powell’s endorsement the most important this campaign season?
This entry was posted on Monday, September 15th, 2008 and is filed under 2008 Election, Barack, Independents, McCain. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
September 15th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
If he endorses Obama … no.
It’s only important if by some chance he was to come out for McCain.
To be honest, I really wouldn’t be surprised if Colin Powell never endorses anybody in this election.
September 15th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
I think Todd is completely wrong on this. Powell endorsing Obama would cause some serious re-evaluation by lots of independents who respect Powell.
September 15th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Hi Jim,
I’d personally like to see Colin Powell endorse Obama … and looking at your blog I assume you would too.
But that’s my point.
Those who would be most impressed by a Powell endorsement, are either already Obama supporters … or at the very least already very skeptical about McCain/Palin.
If Powell endorsed McCain, it probably would cause a lot of reasonable/Independent people to stand up and take notice.
But at this point, if he endorses Obama, it will pretty much be what most “reasonable” people expect.
… on the flip side, (too) many of those who already support McCain and “Sarah” will simply write it off as a “Black thing”.
Just my opinion of course,
Todd
September 16th, 2008 at 7:59 am
A Powell endorsement would likely push the remaining fringe voters to his choice. At this point, most people already know who they’re voting for, and for those people, a Powell endorsement means little.
It’s that remaining fringe that could really turn the election around either way.
September 16th, 2008 at 9:59 am
I’d be VERY surprised to see Powell endorse. I think the most he’s going to do is comment that, “I’ve made my decision, but I won’t be announcing it.”
September 16th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
I agree 100% with Todd, he beat me to it. Not just with “only if he endorses McCain” but with the prediction that he doesn’t endorse.
I think he endorses no one.
I also think it doesn’t matter. I can’t imagine what is going on in the mind of any person who is undecided and is waiting for some important political celebrity to help them make up their mind.
And whoever else pointed it above, I agree that Obama supporters are eager to trumpet a Powell endorsement, because they have already made up their own minds, so they’re ready to talk themselves into the notion that Powell might sway independents. But independents don’t decide on the basis of what other people think, they take their own counsel. Partisans like to make a big deal about endorsements even though if you are a partisan a celebrity endorsement only ever ratifies your already made choice.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:15 am
I have been waiting for quite sometime for Colin Powell to come out with his endorsement. He is still revered around the world no matter what he did or didn’t do. And I strongly believe that it would be for Obama. It is obvious to me that McCain choosing Sarah Palin for VP had to be unbelievable to someone like CP; and that he would never endorse the ticket where this woman could lead our country.
But bottom line, I don’t think he will make a public endorsement either.