Why Powell Is Expected to Back Obama

Colin Powell will make his presidential preference clear on Meet the Press tomorrow, the New York Daily News reports, detailing some of the reasons the former secretary of state is expected to defect from his party's candidate. "McCain has too many neocons working for him,"  says one Republican close to Powell. The general is also piqued that McCain floated a disingenuous rumor that he was a top VP contender.

“He wishes McCain could give him a reason to vote for him, but he hasn't," says another Powell associate. McCain hasn’t spoken with Powell in months, while Obama has called frequently seeking his support. The cautious Powell may stop short of an explicit endorsement, one source said, but “after Sunday, people aren’t going to have any doubt who he’s voting for.” (More Election 2008 stories.)