Powell backs Obama

Hello, I'm Kristin Volk and this is a UPI White House Weekly.

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell is endorsing Senator Barack Obama for president. The widely-admired Republican and former member of President Bush's cabinet went on TV to say he was disappointed in Republican John McCain's largely negative campaign. Powell added that he was supporting Obama because he believes the U.S. needs a transformational figure and president who is a generational change. The endorsement was a boost to Obama who has struggled to establish his national security and foreign policy credentials in the campaign against McCain.

A record number of voters are likely for the upcoming presidential election. That's according to election experts who attribute this prediction to high voter turnout in early voting. More than 2 million people have cast absentee or other types of ballots. A record 213 million people are eligible to vote this year, and election experts say we have a very good chance of beating the 64 percent turnout in the 1960 election.

The Republican National Committee has shelled out more than $150 thousand dollars to clothe and accessorize vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her family. That's according to financial disclosure records that show big-time spending trips to Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. The news has prompted campaign finance experts to question the legality using campaign cash to purchase items for personal use. The McCain campaign issued a statement saying the clothes that were purchased will go to charity once the race ends.

Senator McCain cris-crossed the state of Florida this week with a series of "Joe the Plumber" events to target blue-collar workers. At those events, he criticized Obama's tax plans and promoted his own proposal to cut taxes for individuals and businesses. The Arizona Senator previewed this rally approach earlier this week in Ohio, which is the home state of the original Joe the Plumber. Joe Wurzelbacher became a prominent figure in McCain's campaign after he was videotaped questioning whether Obama's plan to raise taxes on those making more than $250 thousand dollars would keep him from buying the plumbing shop where he works.

That's all for now. Thanks for watching and we'll see you next week.

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[frankiesmoo]

Powell an American hero and you are an asshole

[audacity226]

wiferachel, you are an idiot...maybe you are a nazi.

[wiferachel]

obama is a nazi

[bennett1200]

all I saw was a guy needing a job , what a butt kisser

[metalmuncher14]

Not really a boost for Obama as near as much as it is a loss of respect for powell.

[tlndofa]

All righty then...V!

[tomco727]

so does forrest gump

[jmotz3]

Obama and McCain are the same on fundamentals.