Sununu Backs Off Race Statement About Powell [VIDEO]

Former New Hampshire governor John Sununu is backing away from his suggestion that fellow Republican Colin Powell endorsed Barack Obama because both men are black.

Sununu has issued a statement saying the retired Army general and former Secretary of State is a friend and he doesn't doubt that Powell's backing for Obama is based on anything but Powell's "support of the president's policies."

Sununu is a top adviser to GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney and told CNN yesterday Powell might have a "slightly different reason" for backing Obama. When host Piers Morgan asked why, Sununu suggested it could be a matter of Powell being proud of having someone from his "own race" being president.

Powell endorsed Obama this week on CBS -- noting that while difficult choices lay ahead on taxes, spending and other issues, the U.S. has begun to come out of its economic dive.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)