Colin Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State and retired Army general, endorsed Barack Obama for president this morning on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Powell, who worked in two Republican administrations — for George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush — said he would be voting Obama over John McCain for whom he said he said tremendous respect.

Among the reasons Powell cited in an interview with Tom Brokaw were Obama’s steadiness in recent weeks during the economic crisis and the narrowing of the Republican Party in recent years.

Watch the video of Powell explaining his reasons and his endorsement of Obama.