FORMER US secretary of state Colin Powell has endorsed Barack Obama as "a transformational figure" and issued a blistering attack on Republicans for fighting a narrow and divisive campaign.
Mr Powell is the most high-profile Republican to declare his support for Mr Obama. As a former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff under the first president Bush and national security adviser and secretary of state under the second, his endorsement could help to dispel doubts about the Democrat's experience on national security issues.
"Because of his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America, because of who he is and his rhetorical abilities . . . he has met the standard of being a successful president, being an exceptional president," Mr Powell said on NBC's Meet the Press.
"I think he is a transformational figure. He is a new generation coming into the world - on to the world stage, on to the American stage, and for that reason I'll be voting for Senator Barack Obama."
Mr Powell said he will not be campaigning for Mr Obama but his endorsement could have a powerful impact as the presidential race enters its final fortnight. Although he praised Mr McCain as a lifelong friend, the former secretary of state said flatly that Sarah Palin was not qualified to be president and he was unsparing in his criticism of the conduct of the Republican campaign.
"I'm also troubled by, not what Senator McCain says, but what members of the party say. And it is permitted to be said such things as, 'Well, you know that Mr Obama is a Muslim'. Well, the correct answer is, he is not a Muslim, he's a Christian," Mr Powell said.
"He's always been a Christian. But the really right answer is, what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer's No, that's not America. Is there something wrong with some seven-year-old Muslim-American kid believing that he or she could be president?"
Mr Obama said he was "beyond honoured" by Mr Powell's endorsement, but Mr McCain said his old friend's decision came as no surprise to him.
Former Republican House speaker Newt Gingrich said Mr Powell's intervention was a severe blow to Mr McCain. "What that just did in one sound bite . . . is it eliminated the experience factor," Mr Gingrich told ABC News. "How are you going to say the former chairman of the joint chiefs, the former national security adviser, former secretary of state was taken in?"
Mr Obama announced yesterday that he raised a record-shattering $150 million during October, extending his already wide financial advantage over his rival, who accepted public funds that limit spending to $84 million.