Colin Powell endorses Obama

Retired Gen. Colin Powell, who served as Secretary of State under George W. Bush, endorsed President Obama's bid for re-election on Thursday.

"Well, you know I voted for him in 2008 and I plan to stick with him in 2012 and I'll vote for him and Vice President Joe Biden next month," Powell said on CBS's This Morning on Thursday.

Powell said he decided to endorse Obama again this year because the president has led the country back from recession after taking over during a time of “real trouble.”

“I think generally we've come out of the dive and we're starting to gain altitude,” Powell said, although he added that the unemployment rate is still too high and people are still hurting. “So I think we ought to keep on the track that we’re on.”

Powell also praised Obama’s efforts to get the country out of two wars, and touted the president’s efforts against terrorism as “very, very solid.” He also offered his support of the health care overhaul, although he said some aspects of the plan need to be fixed.

Powell said he remains a “moderate Republican,” but added that he is “uncomfortable” with GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s economic plan and has “concerns” about his views on foreign policy.

“The governor who was saying things at the debate on Monday night was saying things that were quite different from what he said earlier,” Powell said, referring to the third and final presidential debate, on foreign policy. “I’m not quite sure which governor Romney we would be getting with respect to foreign policy.”

"My concern is that sometimes I don't sense that he has thought through these issues as thoroughly as he should have," Powell added.

Powell also endorsed Obama in 2008.