We must bridge the race divide, Powell tells his party

Gulf war military chief tackles historic taboos while prospective first lady debates pastels versus primary colours

George W Bush's effort to make the US Republican party appear more inclusive has received a massive boost with a star performance from Colin Powell, former General and one of the country's leading black Americans.

George W Bush's effort to make the US Republican party appear more inclusive has received a massive boost with a star performance from Colin Powell, former General and one of the country's leading black Americans.

General Powell's rip-roaring speech was the highlight of the first night of the Republican Convention, part of a highly choreographed but still powerful performance. It boosted his chances of a job in any Bush administration, and helped create the image of a party that is trying to open its doors.

Mr Bush, the party's candidate for President, introduced the General, with a broad hint that he will get a Cabinet post - perhaps secretary of state. "I hope his greatest service to America might still lie ahead,'' he said. Last night another prominent black official, Condoleeza Rice, was set to speak on defence. Ms Rice, a former aide to ex-President Bush, the candidate's father, is pencilled in as national security advisor.

General Powell's speech frequently brought the audience to their feet in tumultuous applause: "In pursuing educational reform, as well as in all other parts of his agenda for Texas, Governor Bush has reached out to all Texans - white, black, Latino, Asian, Native American."

And, he added: "He will bring to the White House that same passion for inclusion. I know that he can help bridge our racial divides."

The first day of the convention was rigidly disciplined, and at one point ran 20 minutes ahead of schedule. Although tightly choreographed and totally scripted, the mixture of speeches, music and video created a more easy-going and open atmosphere than previous years, conjuring up an awards ceremony rather than a Queen concert. The overall effect appeared to go down well, and General Powell's contribution was crucial. The Washington Post said that one focus group used such words as "dynamic", "caring" and "national treasure" to describe him.

Since retiring as chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, General Powell, who came to international prominence during the Gulf war, has worked at a charity that helps underprivileged children, and mostly spoke about education.

His speech followed an evening devoted to social issues, which included a black gospel choir and a black soul singer, hardly regular fixtures at Republican conventions. Some of the largely white audience looked a little non-plussed; some danced, arrhythmically, and others beamed.

The point of such inclusiveness is in part to convince centrist white voters that the Republicans are not just a bunch of Angry White Males, a view that became prominent in the late 1990s. "The party must follow Governor Bush's lead and reach out to minority communities and particularly the African-American community - and not just during an election-year campaign," said General Powell. "It must be a sustained effort. It must be every day. It must be for real." Only 4 per cent of delegates are black.

"We must understand the cynicism that exists in the black community," said General Powell. "The kind of cynicism that is created when, for example, some in our party miss no opportunity to roundly and loudly condemn affirmative action that helped a few thousand black kids get an education, but you hardly heard a whimper from them over affirmative action for lobbyists who load our federal tax codes with preferences for special interests."

Earlier on Monday, Laura Welch Bush, Mr Bush's wife, delivered a somewhat sickly encomium to her husband, her first major public speech. Last night's star turns were Senator John McCain, Mr Bush's former rival for the Republican nomination, and "Stormin'" Norman Schwarzkopf, the former Gulf war General, who was to be telecast from the battleship USS New Jersey.

Mr Bush is already ahead of Al Gore, his Democratic rival, by more than 10 per cent; he can expect a convention "bounce" of at least another 10 per cent. The Democratic convention starts in two weeks' time, and Mr Gore will hope to narrow that and perhaps wipe it out. But so far the Republicans have not put a foot wrong.