Third Time's the Charm

The following was published in the 27 Oct 2008 edition of the Gaudie

U.S. Politics: Turncoat Endorsement

In a surprise twist to the constantly shifting U.S. presidential race, former Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed Senator Barack Obama.

Powell’s long time service in the Republican administrations of the last twenty five years makes his recent support for Obama, a Democrat a 360-degree turn around. Powell is considered a middle of the road Republican. Conservative agitators are already attributing his endorsement to race, as Powell is the son of Jamaican immigrants. His opinion, however, is very respected among moderately conservative white women, a demographic some say Palin has stolen from Obama.

Powell served as National Security Advisor under Ronald Reagan between 1987 and 1989, and then as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest military position at the Department of Defence. Under the first George Bush, Powell was Commander-in-Chief of the United States Army’s Forces Command, making him the head of the Army, Army Reserve and National Guard of all fifty states and the territory of Puerto Rico. Powell served as Secretary of State for the current George Bush from 2001-2005.

In the wake of Powell’s endorsement the McCain campaign has stepped up their attacks questioning Obama’s character and his ability lead.

In an accusation strangely similar to that levelled against George Osborne for soliciting money for the Tories from a Russian millionaire, a letter from John McCain arrived at the Russian embassy to the U.S. asking for a donation to his campaign. The McCain campaign maintained the letter was sent due to an error on the computer mailing list. The Russian mission to the UN responded by saying they “do not finance political activity in foreign countries”. Under U.S. campaign law it is illegal to accept donations from foreign nationals. The only question left; why the Russians?

Governor Sarah Palin, the Republican Vice Presidential nominee, also surprised Democrats, her opponents, by appearing on Saturday Night Live on 19 Oct. Tina Fey, a dead-ringer for Palin, has been making weekly appearances on her former show ridiculing the candidate’s policy positions and goof-ups. Palin took the appearance in good humour and did not appear upset about being poked fun at. She gave as good as she got from Alec Baldwin, who also made an appearance on the show.

Obama took a break from the campaign trail this past weekend to visit his Grandmother in Hawai’i. Madelyn Dunham, who turned 86 on Sunday, has been in failing health recently. Dunham helped raise Obama for most of his adolescence.

A Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released Wed 21 Oct gave Obama a 10-point lead over McCain.