Mar 17 (Pen Men at Work): General David H Petraeus, 10th and current Commander, U.S. Central Command, is said to be in the potential bid for president in 2012 for the Republican Party. Petraeus who has served as Commanding General, Multi-National Force - Iraq (MNF-I) from January 26, 2007 to September 16, 2008 has been a favorite of former president George Bush.

Republican Peter King has said that, “He’s a serious guy… He’s about the only one out there who could really challenge Obama, who isn’t as strong as he was a few months ago… I think he’s an independent, and I haven’t talked to him about this, but I’d encourage him… I’d be open to it.” It’s yet to be seen whether King’s endorsement of Petraeus helps his bid.Though his close aides have rubbished the report as mere speculations there has been a few major articles in media about it. General Petraeus’s advisers say that to preserve a sense of military impartiality, he has not voted since at least 2003, and that he is not sure if he is still registered in New Hampshire where he owns property.

Reports say that he was called upon several times by President Obama during the big Afganistan strategy session in the Situation room and will be back for more in near future. But the general’s closest associates say that he does not enjoy the same status that he had earlier in White House and this might be in wake of these recent developments.

While many have pointed to Petraeus’ strength as a general and the political popularity that could arise from his being such a symbol of competence, few have doubted on his intra-Republican dynamics that would be required from him to navigate.