I have nothing but great respect for him, and the country feels the same way. He'd make a terrific president, but I don't think he'd want to run. VP maybe???

He's a leader with the more than credible bona fidas (read the CENTCOM's web page to understand the scope of the man's current responsiblities). He's managed huge organizations with multi-billion dollar budgets. He's the author of a successful international strategy employed by a military that respects him. He's a graduate of two of the nation's best universities: West Point and Harvard. He's respected by world leaders. Congresspeople on both sides of the aisle respect him. He's one of the top members of the vocation most respected by the American people: US military officer (that's polling data people, not me making it up). He's been shot and survived. His three drawbacks are he hasn't really experienced the microscope of a campaign, he hasn't made his political views completely apparent (considers himself a "Rockefellar republican"? Okay.), and he's got cancer (that was caught early and he's being treated for).

A bit of a stretch. We haven't sent a General to the White House in a couple generations now and its been a mixed bag from a historical standpoint when we have. As an added bonus any opponent has a fantastic choice of footage featuring Dubaya singing his praises to make a bad association with for voters that still throw things every time you say Bush.

he will not run.

No more generals please!

He would be a good pick for Secretary of State, not for Presidency. He's just not ready.

Don't get me wrong I think General Petraeus is a great honorable and honest man, I just don't feel he has the experience required to run the entire country. He would be much better suited as Secretary of State, or a position where his main focus is foreign relations.

Petraeus??!?!?....isn't he a mythological god or something.

Clearly this item is an allusion to the potential candidacy of Numbah16tdhaha, who will be of electable age by 2012.

This is my "Dark Horse" pick for the Republican nomination in 2012. Of course, he's still serving on active duty, so we really don't know Petraeus's political inclinations either way. Whether he becomes a political candidate will depend on how or if Obama wants him to continue serving at Central Command. If the President replaces him, and he retires from the Army, he might be pressured by Republicans to make a run.

Given his record in Iraq, I suspect he's more of a pragmatist. That might make him a very good General Election candidate. But I'll say again that no one really knows if he truly has political ambitions. Given the weak field of potential prospects for 2012, the party might just decide that an outside the box pick might be what the doctor ordered.

I do not doubt that Petraeus will manifest political ambition eventually. It is always a toss-up which party these military figures will align with. Is anyone really sure he is Republican?

He has integrity, would he qualify to be President of the United States on that alone?
I would consider voting for him.

The 1 rating is not of the General...it is a rating of his chances as a Presidential candidate. This country no longer appreciates its true heroes.

He's a great general, but he's avoided politics up to this point. Nobody knows where he stands on anything.

I think the religious right part of this party would rather have Dr. Zaius than Petraeus.

The General is brilliant, but totally non-political. He would be a great candidate, but he will not be a candidate. Unless you really want it, who needs it?

Way too early to have an opinion on this.  And there are way too many people in line before him, people currently in politics.

he's the only candidate i'd vote for over sarah palin, if only he's run!

A Petraeus candidacy would be thinking outside the box, but it would have strong appeal to a number of key voting demographics. He would be 60 in 2012.

He has stated repeatedly that he has no political ambitions, however, and there's no reason not to believe him.