Obama gets boost from huge funding, Powell backing

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-20 11:13

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina -- Democrat Barack Obama won the support of former Republican Secretary of State Colin Powell on Sunday and announced he raised a record $150 million last month, dealing a double blow to rival John McCain's US presidential campaign.

US Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) speaks at a campaign rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina, October 19, 2008. [Agencies]

McCain, despite trailing in opinion polls and fundraising, said he still expects to win the November 4 election and could sense "things are heading our way."

Powell, who served several Republican presidents including George W. Bush as his first secretary of state, said either candidate would make a good president but he was critical of McCain's uncertainty on how to deal with the economic crisis.

Powell, who in the past was mentioned as possibly the first black US president, told NBC's "Meet the Press" he backed Obama "because of his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he's reaching out all across America, because of who he is."

"I think he is a transformational figure," Powell said of the man who could become the first black president. "His is a new generation coming ... onto the world stage, American stage."

Powell's backing of Obama, 47, could give a boost to the foreign policy and national security credentials of the first-term Illinois senator and appeal to moderates and independents.

But the impact of endorsements on voters is questionable and Powell's reputation was somewhat tarnished by making the case for invading Iraq to the United Nations on the false claims that it possessed weapons of mass destruction.

In the midst of economic turmoil and with just over two weeks to go until the election, Obama leads in national polls and in many battleground states but McCain said he sees some movement in his direction.

Obama's lead over McCain has dropped to 3 points, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Sunday. Obama leads McCain 48 to 45 percent among likely US voters, down 1 percentage point from Saturday.

"We're very happy with the way the campaign is going," McCain said on the "Fox News Sunday" program. "I've been on enough campaigns, my friend, to sense enthusiasm and momentum, and we've got it."

Loves The Underdog Role

McCain, 72, said he did not mind being behind in polls.

"And I love being the underdog. You know every time that I've gotten ahead, somehow I've messed it up," he said, referring to the times he has been written off as a candidate.

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