Colin Powell To Endorse Barack Obama?

FoxNews:

Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol repeated Thursday that sources have told him they expect former Secretary of State Colin Powell will endorse Barack Obama , though the former secretary of state has denied reports that he will speak at the Democratic National Convention.

“We all talk to people who talk to people and there are people close to the Obama campaign in the course of conversations who made clear to me that there was very high level discussions. … The Obama people expect Powell to endorse him,” Kristol told FOX News.

In a FOX News exclusive Wednesday, Kristol, a regular contributor, said inside sources suggested Powell would show up in Denver in the week of Aug. 25 specifically to back the presumptive presidential nominee.

“He may well give a speech at the Democratic convention explaining his endorsement of Obama,” Kristol said, citing the sources.

Listen, I like Bill Kristol, but to be fair anyone whose been paying attention to Kristol of late knows that he's not exactly the most reliable source for breaking news. Then too, while Colin Powell has been publicly leaning Left (criticizing the war in Iraq, implying that the response to Hurricane Katrina was racist and even going so far as to tell CNN News that "I will vote for the candidate I think can do the best job in America -- whether that candidate is a Republican or Democrat or an independent") of late, his influence was waned considerably since he stepped down as Secretary of State on 2005. Yet, a Powell endorsement for Barack would still be a huge coup for Barack, if only for his name recognition as well as how much he's meant to the Republican party going way back to Reagan. Shame on Powell if he crosses party lines and sells the GOP out.