Obama campaign airs Colin Powell endorsement ad

theGRIO REPORT - President Barack Obama's campaign launched a new television ad today featuring a recent endorsement by Gen. Colin Powell...

President Barack Obama’s campaign launched a new television ad today featuring a recent endorsement by Gen. Colin Powell.

The Republican former Secretary of State announced his support for the president during an interview last week on CBS This Morning.

The ad, which will air in battleground states like Colorado, Florida and Ohio, emphasizes that Powell is a “former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff” and a “Republican.”

The following clip of the interview then shows Powell explaining why he’s backing President Obama.

“When he took over, we were in one of the worst recessions we had seen in recent times,” Powell said. He went on to list the ways the president worked to stabilize the economy since then, including improving the housing market and the auto industry.

“I think we ought to keep on the track that we are on,” Powell said.

He’s received Republican backlash, including disappointed words from Senator John McCain, for his show of support.

A statement from the campaign said Powell’s endorsement “represents a powerful show of bipartisanship.”

“Like Secretary Powell, the American people know that President Obama is a strong, steady and decisive leader with an affirmative vision to move our country forward,” the statement read.

Powell also endorsed President Obama in 2008.

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