Colin Powell to reportedly endorse Obama

UPDATE: Despite Powell denials, Kristol stands by story - see bottom

Retired Gen. Colin Powell, former Secretary of State under President George W. Bush, is to reportedly endorse Sen. Barack Obama.

Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol told FOX News of the endorsement on Thursday, and later, former national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski repeated the same claim, adding that Powell might even "potentially speak at the Democratic National Convention," per the Huffington Post.

Kristol cited inside sources, according to FOX, but a Powell spokesperson "strongly" denied the report, saying "there's absolutely no truth to it whatsoever."

Powell, a former national security adviser himself, served as chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Pres. Bush's father and was the younger Bush's first secretary of state.

"An endorsement by Powell could go a long way to attracting moderates and wayward Republicans to the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate," the FOX report suggested.

The possible Powell endorsement comes after recent reports that "independent Democrat" Sen. Joe Lieberman could be a key speaker at the upcoming Republican National Convention in Minnesota.

Powell has declined to endorse either Obama or presumptive GOP nominee Sen. John McCain until now.

Kristol added, "I think the Obama campaign shouldn't be underestimated. Obviously anyone would like to have Powell's endorsement."

"Consider the source," said Powell "confidant" and Reagan White House Chief of Staff Ken Duberstein. Kristol, once former Vice President Dan Quayle's top aide, "was the person who advertised himself as Dan Quayle's brain," Duberstein commented. "Colin Powell has no plans to attend either convention."

Powell told ABC News that he won't be attending the convention, but didn't follow up on questions asking whether he was going to endorse Sen. Obama.

This video is from Fox Your World, broadcast August 13, 2008.

Download video

Update: Kristol stands by Powell endorsement story

Powell has dismissed Kristol's implication that the former Secretary of State would speak at the Democratic convention.

"I do not have time to waste on Bill Kristol's musings," Powell said. "I am not going to the convention. I have made this clear."

FOX News' Gretchen Carlson and Brian Kilmeade spoke with Bill Kristol today about Colin Powell's alleged plan to endorse Sen. Barack Obama during the Democratic convention. While Powell's spokesman denied that Powell will attend the convention, Kristol still says his story was at least half right.

"He's a very busy man; he doesn't have time to waste on my musings," Kristol said. "I on the other hand have a lot of time to muse here with you guys and with Neil Cavuto."

Even if Powell doesn't attend the DNC, Kristol claims that the Obama campaign still expects the former Secretary of State to go Democratic this year.

This video is from Fox's Fox & Friends, broadcast August 14, 2008.

Download video