The Cure

One of the issues motivating Colin Powell to appear on Meet the Press this week, and perhaps to endorse Barack, is the ugliness poor Obama has faced on the campaign trail.

A friend and ex-aide said that Gen Powell was extremely "upset" by the "vitriol, bile and prejudice" aimed at Mr Obama on the campaign trail.

I know what might calm Colin - by providing him some perspective.

"We've talked about this and I know it really bothers him and I'd expect him to talk about it," Col Lawrence Wilkerson, his former chief of staff, told The Telegraph.

I'd suggest a visit to the Churches of Jeremiah and Michael.