'probably at some risk to his own possible future prospects'

then again.......... probably not

'WASHINGTON: US Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama said on Monday that if he is elected, he will ask former secretary of state Colin Powell to serve as an advisor in his administration.

"He (Powell) will have a role as one of my advisers. He has already served in that function, even before he endorsed me." Obama said on NBC's Today show.

"Whether he wants to take a formal role, whether that's a good fit for him, is something we'd have to discuss," he added.'