George W Bush’s Secretary of State Colin Powell endorses Joe Biden at Democratic convention in latest GOP defection - as president he served stays away from Donald Trump’s event next week

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who served under Republican President George W. Bush and was once himself a strong presidential contender, is endorsing Democrat Joe Biden at his convention Tuesday.  

'We need to restore those values to the White House,' Powell says in an advance tape of his remarks. 'I support Joe Biden for the presidency of the United States,' he says. 

Powell is just the latest high-profile Republican to come out for Biden, who is seeking to demonstrate a unified appeal to Republicans, Democrats, and Independents to defeat President Trump.

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Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, a Republican, is endorsing Joe Biden at the Democratic convention

Speaking at the convention Tuesday night is Cindy McCain, the wife of Sen. John McCain, the Republican Party's 2008  for president – although also an occasional outsider who sometimes clashed with his party.

Powell a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, advised presidents of both parties, and developed national appeal as an independent voice, though he opted against seeking national office. 

He famously told the UN National Security Council about U.S. intelligence that Iraq was developing nuclear weapons in 2003 during the run up to the second Iraq War, helping advocate for the invasion with information that did not pan out when troops failed to uncover Weapons of Mass Destruction.

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.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell holds a vial representing the small amount of Anthrax that closed the U.S. Senate last year during his address to the UN Security Council February 5, 2003 in New York City. Powell is making a presentation attempting to convince the world that Iraq is deliberately hiding weapons of mass destruction

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President Bill Clinton listens to General Colin Powell speak at the White House

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General Colin Powell and Sen. Joe Biden, D-DE, share a light moment during a photo op before question and answer session with the press, in Russell Building in 2001

On Monday, Biden lined up former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a former presidential contender and longtime congressman, as well as former Rep. Susan Molinari (R-N.Y.), a former member of the House Republican leadership to back him.

The endorsements come as 'never-Trumpers' push to defeat Trump, with some backing Biden, a lifelong Democrat who beat back challengers on his left even as he defended his ability to work with Republicans. 

Trump has regularly derided his Republican opponents as 'RINOs' – Republicans in Name Only. 

'Our country needs a commander in chief who cares for our troops in the same way he cares for his own family,' Powell says in advance remarks, MSBNC reported. 'For Joe Biden, that doesn't need teaching,' Powell said. 

He described growing up in the south Bronx, where he said he learned values Biden shared. 'Those values still define him and we need to restore those values to the White House,' said Powell. 

Powell's former commander in chief, President George W. Bush, is not expected at Trump's convention. He and his father, President George H.W. Bush, skipped Trump's 2016 convention. 

In addition to his new Republican backers, Biden is being endorsed by Democratic former Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Jimmy Carter. 

Powell credited Biden for 'sending his beloved son off to war,' in reference to the late Beau Biden.