I don't think he is promoting this stupid, dumb, disgusting, outrageous, and pathetic idea to improve his chances in 2008. He is promoting it because he believes in it. That is the only explanation I can give to this madness.
The only possible reason I can fathom for him believing in it is that he is projecting. By saying our legitimate techniques for questioning detainees are illegal, he somehow, in his own brainwashed skull, gets vindication against that tortured him into submission and complicity. In his little brain pan, our troops (uniformed and CIA) are HIS 'torturers', and saying they are wrong makes his conduct in captivity OK.