Obama: Powell could have a role in administration

[October 20, 2008]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says that Colin Powell is welcome to campaign for him and might have a place in his administration.

Obama told NBC's "Today" show Monday that Powell "will have a role as one of my advisers." Whether Powell wants to take a formal role, Obama said, would be "something we'd have to discuss."

Obama said Powell, a retired four-star general who served as President Bush's secretary of state, did not give him a heads-up before he crossed party lines and endorsed the Democratic presidential candidate Sunday on the network's "Meet the Press." Powell said on that program he didn't plan to campaign for Obama before the Nov. 4 election.

Obama said he would love to have Powell on the campaign trail.

[Associated Press; By LAURIE KELLMAN]

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