The buzz the past few days since it was released that Barack Obama had met with former Bush Administration Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Colin Powell, has been that an endorsement of Obama for President was imminent.

Robert Novak, the conservative pundit has written and was interviewed on Fox News repeating the mantra of an Obama endorsement by Powell.

Jim Geraghty, too, writes that it is almost a done deal and that it matters.

I’ll be stunned if Colin Powell does not endorse Barack Obama. (Today brings word that they met June 18.) Right now, Powell’s going to be largely, if not primarily, remembered as the man who sold the Iraq war at the United Nations. When Powell passes on, a reference to “showcasing erroneous intelligence about weapons of mass destruction that were not found in Iraq” will crop up no later than the third sentence in his obituary.

It’s hard to believe that’s how he wants to be remembered, demonized by nearly half the country and most of the world’s elites as “Bush’s enabler.”

But if Powell endorses Obama, it will not only be a PR and momentum bonanza for the Democratic nominee, but the retired general will be touted as the man who put his credibility on the line for Obama. The questions surrounding Obama – experience, accomplishments, familiarity with the military and national security issues, connection to middle-American values – are all Powell’s strengths. If the retired general and former Secretary of State says Obama will do okay as commander-in-chief, a lot of Americans will exhale with relief.

Flap disagrees. If Colin Powell endorses Obama it will mean little in the campaign. Why?

1. Colin Powell is African American and race will matter in this Presidential campaign. Name one African American that is NOT endorsing Obama. Really….name one.

2. The Left wing of the Democrat Party will NEVER forgive Powell for being George Bush’s enabler for the Iraq War and that he worked in the Bush I and Reagan Administrations.

Powell has already contributed the maximum to John McCain’s campaign and will be questioned as a hypocritical flip-flopper should he do likewise for Obama.

There is too much downside for Powell to be involved in this race. But, should he throw his support behind Obama he will be beaten up by the left and right – neutralizing any gain for Obama or Powell.