This is the end of the beginning of the end for McCain. The end is still three weeks away.

From CNN:

“I think he is a transformational figure, he is a new generation coming onto the world stage, onto the American stage, and for that reason I’ll be voting for Sen. Barack Obama,” Powell said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Powell said he was concerned about what he characterized as a recent negative turn of Republican candidate Sen. John McCain’s campaign, such as the campaign’s attempts to tie Obama to former 1960s radical Bill Ayers.

“I think that’s inappropriate. I understand what politics is about — I know how you can go after one another, and that’s good. But I think this goes too far, and I think it has made the McCain campaign look a little narrow. It’s not what the American people are looking for,” he said.

Powell, a retired U.S. general and a Republican, was once seen as a possible presidential candidate himself.

The former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and ex-Secretary of State (he of the dangling vial) just pounded a well-aimed nail in the coffin of the McCain campaign. While his endorsement is not a huge surprise, it comes at just the right time. Short of a complete meltdown of the markets tomorrow morning, this will own the news cycle through at least all of Monday with reactions leading into Tuesday, stealing yet another day from a Republican candidate who has very few remaining. McCain’s response, that he has the support of many past SecStates (he actually cites Kissinger!?) and a phalanx of retired generals, falls predictably flat. Powell is a rockstar with national name recognition, whereas McCain’s troop approximates a street gang of right wingers and antiques.

UPDATE: I was just talking to my neighbour, a total political junkiewonk. He mused that this will push other Republicans to come out and trash McCain’s negative campaigning and his choice of running mate so as to better position themselves as GOP kingmakers and candidates in 2012. Hmm. Let’s hope so.

Perhaps McCain will change his slogan from “Country First” to “Et tu, Brutus?”.