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Colin Powell’s endorsement of Barack Obama was big news yesterday but does it matter to actual voters?

In a lengthy and detailed critique of John McCain’s campaign and the state of the Republican Party, the former Secretary of State recited the Obama campaign’s arguments. He criticized McCain for the tone of his campaign, for being too connected with the policies of the Bush Administration (in which he himself once served) and for his selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate. So, calling Obama a “transformational” figure, Powell made his endorsement.

Republicans were quick to try and tamp down the importance. “I don't know that it'll make a difference in Missouri,” that state’s governor, Matt Blunt, told CBS News’ Bob Schieffer. “You know, Missourians admire Colin Powell for his many years of service to our country, but in the end they're going to evaluate where the candidates are on issues that are important to them: taxes, growing our economy, creating more wealth rather than redistributing existing wealth, protecting innocent life, protecting Second Amendment rights.”

Democrats were just as quick to hail the significance of Powell’s words. “General Powell was not seen as a dividing figure, but a uniting figure,” said Virginia Governor Tim Kaine. “And so him vouching for Senator Obama convinces those of us who want to see a greater unification of the nation that he's the right guy.”

Who’s right? Maybe both to an extent but the reality is Powell’s endorsement is unlikely to change minds among those who are leaning one way or another or push undecided voters into Obama’s column in mass numbers. Endorsements help because they have a way of reinforcing already held perceptions and validating voters’ own opinions. Unlike celebrity pronouncements, political endorsements do carry more weight, particularly when they are of the aisle-crossing kind. But they don’t really change voter feelings. In fact, this particular one may be more reflective of the fracturing Republican Party than anything else.

The most important, and most-discussed, endorsement throughout the campaign has been Hillary Clinton’s. Despite several attempts, Clinton has been unable to convey real support for her primary opponent. She may be in a no-win position in that whatever she says or however she says it will be parsed for signs that she’s still not on board 100 percent. But it’s her voters, not her, who are important to Obama. In the most recent CBS News/New York Times poll, 82 percent of Clinton’s supporters say they will vote for Obama – up from 60 percent who said so in August.

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Conservative activist/pundit/columnist Bill Kristol is telling Fox News that former Bush Secretary of State Colin Powell may endorse Barack Obama at the upcoming Democratic convention. “He may well give a speech at the Democratic convention explaining his endorsement of Obama,” Kristol tells Fox News. For the complete story, click here.

Update: A Powell spokesman denies the Fox News report today. Last month Powell also told CBS News chief political consultant Marc Ambinder he would "stay away" from both conventions.

Ralph Nader’s suggestion yesterday that Barack Obama is trying to "talk white" and “appeal to white guilt” will likely end up as nothing more than a minor footnote in the story of the 2008 presidential campaign. But race, for better or worse, remains a major component of the battle for the presidency – in ways that go far beyond questions of whether Americans will vote for a black candidate.

As CBS News chief political consultant Marc Ambinder reported yesterday, “John McCain's election strategists plan to tone down the Republicans' traditionally aggressive and public campaign against potential voter fraud.” There is not one simple reason for the decision, but one of the rationales mentioned is the fact that Republicans are particularly wary of being cast as engaging in voter suppression, a charge often raised in reference to African-Americans, with Obama on the ticket.

“The Democrats will unfortunately try to bring race into play when this discussion happens, as they do every cycle,” one top Republican told Ambinder. “It's unfortunate because illegally cast votes disenfranchise real voters by potentially canceling out their votes, and it's in everyone's best interest to have elections conducted fairly with no suspicion of foul play hanging over the winners.”

Whether or not you buy that argument, it does seem that Obama’s background gives Democrats an advantage in this debate they did not have in 2004 – one that translates to an easier road for the Obama campaign in its efforts to register new (and presumably Democratic-leaning) voters. Another potential advantage at least somewhat tied to race is floated today by Robert Novak, who suggests that former Bush administration secretary of state Colin Powell is among the “Obamacons” (that’s conservative Obama supporters) and will endorse the presumptive Democratic nominee. Powell has always been a reluctant conservative, and Obama’s background may help spur him to the sort of high-profile defection that might not have happened with another candidate, particularly if he believes Republicans are playing the race card. “As an African American, friends say, Powell is sensitive to racial attacks on Obama and especially on Obama's wife, Michelle,” Novak writes.

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Speaking to reporters before a speech in Vancouver, British Columbia, Colin Powell said that he’s undecided who he will vote for in the general election. Powell said neither Barack Obama’s race or John McCain’s military experience will be the basis on which he decides, according to the Globe and Mail.

“I will vote for the individual I think that brings the best set of tools to the problems of 21st-century America and the 21st-century world regardless of party, regardless of anything else other than the most qualified candidate," Powell said. "Both of them certainly have the qualifications to be the president of the United States, but both of them cannot be," he added. Asked whether he thinks it is a difficult decision to make, Powell said, “I think so. Yes.”

Powell, who has appeared on some lists speculating about John McCain’s vice presidential choices, served as Secretary of State in President Bush’s first term. He’s generally considered a Republican but has not shied away from disagreeing with his party on several issues.

Asked what he thinks of Barack Obama's political success this year, former Secretary of State Colin Powell had this to say yesterday on PBS: "I'm terribly excited, I'm impressed, and I'm happy for Barack Obama." You can watch the video here.

As AFP notes, Powell urged Americans to "enjoy this moment where a person like Barack Obama can knock down all of these old barriers that people thought existed with respect to the opportunities that are available to African-Americans."

"He is putting himself forward not as a black man but as an American man who wants to be president of the United States of America," Powell added. "We should see Barack as a candidate for president who happens to be black, and not a black candidate for president."

Powell, who is African-American, considered his own presidential run but ultimately decided against it. During the interview, Tavis Smiley told Powell he "could have been Barack Obama."

Powell responded that he had no regrets about his decision and said he takes joy in Obama's success. "Politics wasn't in my blood – it's in Barack's blood," Powell said.