Petraeus: 'I will not ever run for political office'

If Gen. David Petraeus ever runs for president, he'll have some explaining to do.

In a speech at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire on Wednesday, Petraeus sought to put even more distance between himself and the 2012 presidential speculation.

The venue was notable because it houses presidential debates in the state which hosts the first presidential primary, but it was simply one of many stops on college campuses for Petraeus, and he emphasized that fact.

"I thought I've said 'no' as many ways as I could," he said, according to the AP. "I will not ever run for political office, I can assure you of that."

There's been speculation Republicans want Petraeus, the former commander of U.S. forces in Iraq and the current head of U.S. Central Command, to run in 2012. (You may remember there was similar buzz about Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf after Operation Desert Storm but he didn't run either).

And we can't help but wonder if Petraeus statement also means he wouldn't accept the vice presidency.