Former Secretary of State Colin Powell formally endorsed Sen. Barack Obama’s for president on NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday.

Powell described Obama, D-Ill., as having the “ability to inspire” and said he meets the “standard of an exceptional president.”

Powell also described his admiration for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., saying it wasn’t easy for him to disappoint McCain by backing Obama. Nevertheless, Powell said he intends to vote Obama in November.

Powell’s endorsement is very important for the Obama-Biden ticket.

It is hugely significant that Powell is a Republican. He was a member of several Republican presidential administrations starting in the Reagan era and served as secretary of state during President George W. Bush’s first term.

For the first few years of Bush’s presidency, Powell was the face of America to the United Nations and other countries.

Thanks to his urging and because of his personal reputation, several countries initially backed the United States’ military action in Iraq.

Much of the intelligence supplied to Powell’s office was later proved doctored and even downright false, with the Bush administration essentially complicit in the process. Partly as a result of what he calls a “blot” on his record, Powell resigned as secretary of state in 2004.

Probably because of his resignation, Powell continues to command much respect, as evidenced by the huge turnout for his speech at OU last year.

Having the endorsement of a Republican of this prestige and with these credentials would be a boon to any candidate, particularly to a candidate of the Democratic Party.

Obama was, understandably, delighted at the endorsement, calling Powell to thank him and issuing a respectful communiqué almost immediately.

Meanwhile, while McCain stated his respect and admiration of Powell, McCain attempted to diminish the value of Powell’s endorsement, highlighting instead the four secretaries of state who have endorsed the McCain-Palin ticket.

There is a crucial difference, however, between Powell and the four secretaries of state who have endorsed McCain — Henry Kissinger, James Baker, Lawrence Eagleburger and Alexander Haig.

The latter four served during or immediately after the Cold War. Theirs was a time when fighting the spread of Communism and countering the Soviet Union was the main focus of U.S. foreign policy.

They did not have to deal with international terrorism as it exists today, and they did not certainly did not have to sell an unpopular war to a world generally opposed to it.

Simply put, the other secretaries of state dealt with a world far removed from today’s world.

Not only has Powell dealt with the foreign policy climate as it exists today, but he was a major player in the Cold War era, as well.

He served as secretary of state under former President Ronald Reagan and also as chairman of the joint chiefs of staff under former president George H. W. Bush.

Powell uniquely possesses the military and political experience of the Cold War era and the international political experience of the post 9/11 world.

This combination of experience and the resultant perspective is matched by few, if any, well-known figures.

As it has through the entire presidential campaign, the issue of race has again been brought to the forefront by Powell’s endorsement.

Many grassroots Republican supporters, as evidenced by comments on news Web sites, view Powell’s endorsement of Obama as nothing more than one black politician supporting another.

Even the McCain campaign has hinted at racial undertones, saying the endorsement didn’t come as a surprise.

To assert that Powell is supporting Obama solely due to race disrespectfully ignores Powell’s credentials and long service to his country and government.

The argument also has two major holes.

First, if race had been the only or primary motivation for the endorsement, why would Powell come forward now, just two weeks before the election, when Obama is leading in almost every poll anyway?

His endorsement would have been much more helpful a few months ago, when McCain was tied with or leading Obama nationwide.

Secondly, if a black person supporting a black candidate is racism, then so is a white person supporting a white candidate.

If Powell is guilty of racism, then so are the white Americans who support McCain.

Accusing Powell of racism but not accusing the white McCain supporters is a double standard.

Colin Powell is respected by many Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike.

He is perhaps the only member of the Bush administration to enjoy this kind of support and is often mentioned as a possible presidential candidate himself.

His endorsement of Obama, therefore, carries real weight.

Even though Obama probably could win any election held today without it, Powell’s endorsement gives added credibility to his campaign.

Munim Deen is a microbiology senior. His column appears every other Tuesday.