Colin Powell backs Obama

US President George W Bush’s first Secretary of State, Colin Powell, has endorsed Democratic election candidate Barack Obama for the White House. “He has both style and substance. I think he is a transformational figure,” Powell said. “I come to the conclusion that 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 further added. Mr Obama said his campaign had been endorsed by “a great soldier, a great statesman and a great American”.