World
Obama to offer position for Powell if elected president
Source: Xinhua | 10-21-2008 08:10
Special Report: U.S.Presidential Election 2008WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama said Monday that if he is elected, he will ask former Secretary of State Colin Powell to serve as an advisor in his administration.
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U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) speaks at a campaign rally in Kansas City,October 18, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) |
"He (Powell) will have a role as one of my advisers. He has already served in that function, even before he endorsed me." Obama said on NBC's Today show.
"Whether he wants to take a formal role, whether that's a good fit for him, is something we'd have to discuss," he added.
Powell, a retired four-star general and widely-respected Republican, crossed party lines to back Obama last Sunday as he described Republican presidential nominee John McCain's campaign as petty and troubling.
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Former Secretary of State Colin Powell speaks during a taping of "Meet the Press" at NBC in Washington October 19, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) |
Analysts said the endorsement will help Obama tackle criticism that he is too inexperienced on foreign policy and military issues to become president.
Powell, a 71-year-old African American, had advised former president Ronald Reagan and served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under former presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
Editor:Zhang Pengfei