Colin Powell has come out in favor of same-sex marriage. "I have no problem with it," he told CNN. "In terms of the legal matter of creating a contract between two people that's called marriage, and allowing them to live together with the protection of law, it seems to me that is the way we should be moving in this country. And so I support the president's decision." Powell—who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff when Don't Ask, Don't Tell was implemented—described that policy as the best compromise possible at the time.
But Powell—who endorsed Obama in 2008—said he is "keeping his powder dry" when it comes to supporting either candidate this time around. He described Mitt Romney as a "good man" whom he has known for many years, but chided him for calling Russia America's "number one geopolitical foe," and suggested that he get some new foreign policy advisers. "I don't know who all of his advisers are, but I've seen some of the names, and some of them are quite far to the right," he said. (More Colin Powell stories.)