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Photo: World Economic Forum

Sen. Barack Obama added two prominent endorsements to his quiver over the weekend — both of which cited his opponent’s poor judgment in choosing a running mate and at least one of which should cause even earnest skeptics to pay the Democratic candidate a second look.

Retired Gen. Colin Powell — a well-respected lifelong Republican, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, former national security adviser, secretary of state during George W. Bush’s first term, and a long-time friend of Sen. John McCain — stunned many today not so much with his public endorsement of Obama but with the unflinchingly convincing manner he did so on NBC’s Meet the Press (video below). Anyone unconvinced that Obama’s foreign policy judgment is solid enough to serve as commander in chief will be hard-pressed now to continue holding that view, in light of Powell’s contrary verdict.

Although Powell did not specifically cite this, any misgivings one may harbor about Obama’s experience are tempered further by his pledge to reserve a seat at the table for running mate Sen. Joe Biden on every single major policy decision an Obama administration would make — and to actively solicit Biden’s input while meeting regularly with him at least weekly for a minimum of one hour.

Powell’s endorsement follows an equally compelling if not surprising one Friday by the Washington Post (excerpt below), which provides a fair-minded and well-reasoned rationale reflecting both the prudence and optimism we will need of our next president at this moment in our nation’s history.

“The choice is made easy in part by Mr. McCain’s disappointing campaign, above all his irresponsible selection of a running mate who is not ready to be president…Mr. Obama’s temperament is unlike anything we’ve seen on the national stage in many years. He is deliberate but not indecisive; eloquent but a master of substance and detail; preternaturally confident but eager to hear opposing points of view. He has inspired millions of voters of diverse ages and races, no small thing in our often divided and cynical country. We think he is the right man for a perilous moment.”

– Washington Post endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama,
Oct. 17, 2008