US Election: John Sununu says race was factor in Colin Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama The remark prompted swift criticism and Mr Sununu quickly released a statement backtracking on the claim. "Colin Powell is a friend and I respect the endorsement decision he made and I do not doubt that it was based on anything but his support of the president's policies," he said. The remarks by Mr Sununu, one of Mr Romney's most prominent and flamboyant supporters, proved an unwelcome distraction as the Republican prepared to give a major speech on the economy. However, it is not the first time that he has been accused of injecting race into the presidential election. In July, he told reporters on a conference call that he wished Mr Obama "would learn how to be an American" and was forced to quickly apologise. Earlier this month, he was criticised for describing the President as "lazy" after his poor performance in the first presidential debate. He made no mention of race in his endorsement of Mr Obama on Thursday, saying instead: "I signed on for a long patrol with President Obama and I don't think this is the time to make such a sudden change." Mr Powell credited the President with recent improvements in the economy and praised him as a steely commander-in-chief who had wound down the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also expressed scepticism that Mr Romney would be able to cuts taxes and increase military spending without adding to the federal government's budget deficit. The President said he was "proud and humbled" as he vowed to keep America's military the strongest "the world has ever known."