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Colin Powell says he's voting for Hillary Clinton

Powell served as secretary of state for four years under President George W. Bush

By Doug G. Ware
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell speaks as Hillary Rodham Clinton laughs before Powell's official portrait was unveiled at the State Department in Washington, D.C., in 2009. Tuesday, Powell told a trade association in New York that he will vote for Clinton on Nov. 8. File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell speaks as Hillary Rodham Clinton laughs before Powell's official portrait was unveiled at the State Department in Washington, D.C., in 2009. Tuesday, Powell told a trade association in New York that he will vote for Clinton on Nov. 8. File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI | License Photo

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- The man who served as former President George W. Bush's first secretary of state says he'll cross the aisle, again, to vote for Hillary Clinton.

Colin Powell said he will pledge his vote to the Democratic nominee instead of Donald Trump while speaking Tuesday afternoon at a trade event on Long Island, N.Y.

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"I am voting for Hillary Clinton," he said, according to The New York Times, citing her skills as a political leader and her government experience.

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"He also elaborated on several reasons why he felt that Donald Trump was not the right candidate," earwitness Paule Pachter said. "He spoke about his inexperience, he spoke about the messages that he's sending out every day to his supporters, which really paints our country in a negative light across the globe with all our allies."

NBC News correspondent Andrea Mitchell also confirmed Powell's endorsement of Clinton, who took over his office in the State Department four years after he departed.

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Powell has criticized Trump in the past, but he has also expressed disappointment with Clinton -- particularly in emails he wrote that were leaked earlier this year after Powell's inbox was hacked.

Powell has served under three Republican presidents (Bush, George H. W. Bush and Ronald Reagan) and briefly under one Democratic commander in-chief (Bill Clinton).

Powell's endorsement of Clinton, however, shouldn't come as a complete surprise. He voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012.

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