We shouldn't be considering politics in the same breath with national survival. The sitting President will do what will best ensure the survival of the country regardless of how it affects his chances in the next election or his Party in the election after.
Ahh, but that's the "sitting President". He will do the right thing, even if it costs him re-election.
But what about the jerk who gets the White House? Because I'm afraid I'm betting that most of Americans aren't willing to put Pres. Bush back into the White House. It scares me to death that anyone would think like that, but apparently there are plenty of them who think "anybody but Bush."