Sununu Does a No-No
Claims Powell's Obama Endorsement is Based on Race

(Nashua, NH) — Responding to General Colin Powell's endorsement of President Obama for re-election, former Republican New Hampshire governor and White House chief of staff John Sununu decided it was a fine time to play the race card in the 2012 election.

Powell served as secretary of state under President Shrub and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President George H.W. Bush, also endorsed Obama in 2008.

Sununu, now a top adviser to Mitt Romney's presidential campaign, suggested on October 25 that Powell, a Republican, endorsed the president, a Democrat, because both men are African-American.

"Frankly, when you take a look at Colin Powell, you have to wonder whether that's an endorsement based on issues or whether he's got a slightly different reason for preferring President Obama," Sununu said.

Asked what those might be, Sununu pointed to race.

"Well, I think when you have somebody of your own race that you're proud of being president of the United States, I applaud Colin for standing with him," Sununu said.

The Romney campaign issued a brief statement through an anonymous spokesman. "He's Mitt Romney, and he didn't approve this message," said the Romney spokesman, speaking on condition of anonymity.