Mac Irked at Powell for Not Calling

Obama endorsement from respected statesman will draw swing voters

(NEWSER) - Colin Powell’s endorsement of Barack Obama has backed an already-defensive John McCain even further into a corner, writes Politico. Following what McClatchy Newspapers calls a “blistering critique” of McCain’s campaign by the former secretary of state, the Republican has found himself defending anew the Palin pick, the Ayers angle and his recent onslaught of negative robocalls—a tactic he condemned in the 2000 race. More»

Senator no longer needs to prove he can lead the nation

(NEWSER) - Colin Powell made life a lot easier for Barack Obama by endorsing him today, Mark Halperin writes in Time. He swallowed up a few days of media time; he gave Obama the support of a respected figure; and he allayed fears that Obama can't cut it as commander-in-chief. Powell's support "makes it much harder, even if there is an unexpected international crisis, for Republicans to suggest Obama simply isn't qualified to protect the country," writes Halperin. More»

(AP) - Former Secretary of State Colin Powell has endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president, describing the Dem as a "transformational figure." Powell says both Obama and John McCain are qualified to be commander in chief. But, in an interview today on NBC's Meet the Press, he said Obama is better suited to handle the nation's economic problems, as well as help improve its standing in the world. More»

Former NYC mayor, who campaigned for Bush in '04, rips Alaska book-banning

(NEWSER) - Ed Koch, the former Democratic New York mayor who has skipped among political parties for 15 years, today endorsed Barack Obama for president. Why, Ben Smith asked him for Politico? “The designation of (Sarah) Palin to be vice president. She's scary.” Koch says foreign attacks aren’t all the US should be worried about, and Obama is better suited to protect civil liberties. More»

And yes, there's a Sarah Palin character

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama's 2008 campaign is the subject of Hope!, a musical set to premiere Jan. 17 in Frankfurt. The production features musical-theater versions of the major players: Michelle, Hillary—looking quite young—John McCain and even Sarah Palin, who sings a solo surrounded by scantily clad dancers. Writer and composer Randall Hutchins, who is American, tells Der Spiegel he got the idea for the production "right at the start of Obama's electoral campaign. I found the atmosphere exciting and that was my inspiration." More»