Editor’s Note: Former Secretary of State Colin Powell has been complimentary of Democratic presumptive nominee Sen. Barack Obama — and speculation is increasing since it now turns out they met two weeks ago. So when, if at all, will there be an endorsement? Examiner.com political columnist Tony Campbell is on the trail and has some reporting tidbits — and advice to pundits and voters:
The Application to become Commander-in-Chief: Obama and Powell
by Tony Campbell
It was reported that Senator Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Colin Powell met in Powell’s Alexandria Office back on June 18th. The fact that they met didn’t surprise me, what did surprise me was that it took three weeks to make the meeting public, and that the meeting occurred only a week or so after Obama secured the position of presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party.
In April, I had a conversation with a Powell insider who told me that “the Secretary really likes Obama a lot.” When I asked my friend if Powell would endorse Obama, the response I received was “not anytime soon…Powell is being Powell.”
I have had the pleasure of being around Secretary Powell several times since 1996 when I was involved with his book tour and almost hatched presidential bid. Colin Powell knows that everyone is watching what he does concerning his political relationship with Barack Obama. It is still widely accepted that if he had chosen to run for the Presidency he may have beaten Bill Clinton in 1996. Powell’s endorsement would eliminate most fears of the defense and/or foreign policy establishment that Obama does not have the gravitas to be an effective Commander-in-Chief.
My suggestion to all of the political writers and tea leaf readers: Don’t expect an endorsement from Powell anytime soon. Colin Powell is using his considerable intellect and talents to size up the man who wants to become the 44th President of the United States. We should take a cue from him…and if possible take a peak at his notes.
Photos by AP
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.