McCain's outspoken support for Petraeus and his strategy that has reduced violence in Iraq has helped him become the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. This week, he plays a key role in a new round of Petraeus hearings to be held in the shadow of presidential politics. McCain, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama are on the Senate committees that will host the general. All plan to attend the hearings.

"I believe this strategy has succeeded and will succeed and can succeed," McCain said on Fox News Sunday, ahead of the hearings.

Michael O'Hanlon, a Brookings Institution senior fellow, said there's no doubting "a strong correlation between Petraeus and his success and McCain and his success."

This is not to say Petraeus is playing politics, O'Hanlon said, only that the senator has hitched his White House hopes to a plan that has helped him, to date. "I don't see how McCain wins the presidency if Iraq goes south," he said.

McCain frequently has invoked Petraeus' name in town hall meetings and campaign speeches, calling him "one of the greatest generals in American history."

The former Navy pilot and Vietnam prisoner of war plans to offer his preview of this week's hearings during a speech today in Kansas City, Mo.

Clinton and Obama say there are too many Americans being killed in Iraq while its national government fails to take control of the country. They are calling for the start of a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq.

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., a member of the armed services committee, said politics will be a part of the hearings because "we're in the season." He said Petraeus has developed good relations with Congress.

Reed said McCain has "tied a great deal of his fortunes to Iraq, both good and bad," though the recent violence "undercuts the claim that everything's fine."

One political blog, Crystal Ball, even has suggested Petraeus as a possible running mate for McCain. Larry Sabato, who runs the blog as director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, said Petraeus spared McCain the burden of relying on the war's commander in chief, President Bush.

"Petraeus has the credibility that George W. Bush almost completely lacks now," Sabato said.

		Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., asks a question during a 2006 Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in Washington. Virginia Senator John Warner looks on at left. 2006 AP file photo

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