McCain Makes Surprise Visit to Baghdad

John McCain made a surprise visit to Baghdad this morning, where he will meet with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Gen. David Petraeus, and US troops. Details were sketchy for security reasons. McCain, who has linked his political hopes to success in Iraq, has begun a tour of the Mideast and Europe to position himself for the general election as a world leader, the Chicago Tribune reports.

The visit to Iraq is McCain's eighth during the current war. "McCain has a fabulous opportunity to reintroduce himself while the Democrats are in this vicious knife fight," a GOP strategist said. McCain hopes to shift the focus of the election toward foreign policy and military expertise. (More John McCain stories.)