LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Powell gave the president where he felt it was due, but was quick to point out various missteps Obama had made during his first term. Powell believes that Obama made several significant achievements during his first term, but Powell stopped short of giving him an official endorsement in the upcoming election.

Powell endorsed Obama for president in 2008, calling him a transformational figure who could institute generational change. While Powell lauds the president's accomplishments, he is not ready to offer his endorsement just yet.

"I think he has been (a transformational figure), (but) not completely," Powell told Lauer. "There are some things that he has done that I wish he had not done - for example, leave Guantanamo open. I would've closed that rapidly. He tried, (and) he was stopped by Congress."

According to Powell, one of Obama's most significant achievements has been to reverse a spiraling economy.

"He stabilized the financial system, he brought about stability in the economy, (and) he fixed the auto industry. I think he took us out - not completely out - he took us out of the most difficult problem we were facing at that time, which was an economy that was collapsing. It's improving, but not fast enough. His number one goal for the rest of this year, as it should've been for the whole four years, is to get the economy running again."

When asked about whether his praise for Obama constitutes a similar endorsement to the one Powell gave him in 2008, Powell indicated that he has not made that decision yet.

"Oh, (Obama) knows better," Powell said. "He knows that I always keep my powder dry, as they say in the military. I feel as a private citizen I will listen to what the president says and what the president has been doing, but I also have to listen to what the other fella says. I've known Mitt Romney for many years - good man. It's not just a matter of whether you support Obama or Romney, it's who they have coming with them."

Powell says that he reserves the right to change his mind from the last election if the Republicans offer a better solution to the country's problems.

"The beautiful part of being a private citizen is you can decide when you want to throw your weight, if you want to throw your weight," he said. "I'm still listening to what the Republicans are saying they're going to do to fix the fiscal problems. We have to get the economy moving, and I think I owe that to the Republican Party.

"I also think that's the right way to go about it. Too often in this country we simply stick with whatever you said last year even if it doesn't work out or make sense, so I like to listen to everybody, examine everything and then in due course make a judgment and vote the way I think the correct way to vote is."

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