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Colin Powell backing Obama?
10/04/2008 20:28 - (SA)
Washington - Former US secretary of state Colin Powell on Thursday downplayed Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama's inexperience in foreign affairs, a key line of attack used by the Illinois senator's rivals.
"He didn't have a lot of experience in running a presidential campaign, did he? But he seems to know how to organise the task," Powell said in an interview with ABC News.
"He doesn't have experience at the senior levels of national government. But I've seen other individuals who have come along that didn't have that breadth of experience," Powell said.
The extent of Powell's remaining influence among US voters is not clear, as he is one of the figures most associated with the decision to wage war in Iraq, despite his well known qualms about military action abroad.
Not sure who to vote for
But his foreign policy experience, as a former chairperson of the joint chiefs of staffs and secretary of state, outweighs that of any candidate in the 2008 White House race.
He was also one of the highest ranking African American public officials ever in US history.
Powell, a Republican, said he knew all about Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain, and had not yet decided who to vote for, comments which will further fan speculation he may back Obama.
The former secretary of state also said he thought Obama had handled the furore over incendiary comments by his former preacher Jeremiah Wright well.
"I thought he gave a very, very thoughtful, direct speech. I agree with much of what he said."
- AFP
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US Elections Special Report
