I always did have a rather soft spot for Colin Powell and never quite understood why he ended up finding himself in Bush's cabal as Secretary of State - especially with the arguements that he kept having with other more hawkish inner circle members.

The fact that you've got a former Republican Secretary of State come out and endorse Barack Obama and claim that Sarah Palin isn't ready for the White House is an enormous blow to McCain (especially as the two of them are apparently old friends).

Anyway, way to go Colin...

Colin Powell Backs Barack Obama (BBC News; Sunday 19th October 2008)