Would David Petraeus say yes to Mitt Romney? Why that's a long shot.
| Washington
Presidential candidate Mitt Romney is courting retired General David Petreaus 鈥� now the head of the Central Intelligence Agency 鈥� to be his vice president.
That is the Drudge report story making a big splash on the web.
Certainly, having General Petraeus 鈥� a decorated and widely respected war hero and military strategist 鈥� as a running mate would be a boon for Romney by boosting his national security credentials.
So it is easy to fathom why Mr. Romney would want Petraeus on his ticket.
But how would Petraeus benefit 鈥� and what are the chances he would say yes?
The odds he would agree to join Romney on the campaign trail are, in a word, slim.
For starters, Petraeus is known to be fiercely protective of his reputation in the media.
A student of strategy, Petraeus is no doubt well aware of how politics can muddy sterling military reputations 鈥� a la General Wesley Clark鈥檚 2004 presidential run after retiring as NATO鈥檚 Supreme Allied Commander.
He has also studied the career trajectory of Ulysses S. Grant. He spoke to NBC鈥檚 David Gregory in August 2010, noting 鈥渉ow historians changed their views of Grant over the years, initially, of course, regarding him as the true hero, of course. And then, over time, in the 1900s there was a period when a bit more disparaging views of him, and then it鈥檚 actually come up again in recent years.鈥�
Some Republicans, meanwhile, are not so sure he would be an ideal pick.
True, 鈥淧etraeus fulfills the Republicans鈥� perpetual desire for an authoritative father figure,鈥� notes Mark McKinnon, a former adviser to Sen. John McCain. 鈥淏ut that鈥檚 a psychological issue among Republicans, not an actual job qualification.鈥�
Most tellingly, Petraeus has made no secret of his lack of political ambition.
鈥淚 am not a politician, and I will never be, and I say that with absolute conviction,鈥� Petraeus told Mr. Gregory. 鈥淣o way, no how.鈥�
The White House, however, remains wary that Petraeus could be lured into a campaign.
Some analysts argued that his appointment as CIA director in September 2011 was the Obama administration鈥檚 effort to give Petraeus a job that he would see as a great intellectual challenge 鈥� but that would also keep him out of the spotlight, effectively sidelining him.
Though the Drudge Report Tuesday said President Obama had 鈥渨hispered to a top fundraiser鈥� this week that he believed Romney wanted to name Petraeus as his veep and had secretly met with him in New Hampshire, the White House denied the report.
鈥淚 can say with absolutely confidence, such an assertion has never been uttered by the president,鈥� White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Tuesday. 鈥淎nd again be mindful of your sources.鈥�
The CIA for its part issued its own disavowal of the report. 鈥淒irector Petraeus feels very privileged to be able to continue to serve our country in his current position,鈥� said CIA spokesman Todd Ebitz. 鈥淎nd as he has stated clearly numerous times before, he will not seek elected office.鈥�
