This smacks of statesmanship. He is putting his country before his own ambition. This is the old, veteran statesman and war hero reporting for duty to put his country first.
He is also forcing 0bama's hand to put a vote on the record on this issue, thus making it impossible for Zero to use it as a campaign issue.
//He is also forcing 0bama’s hand to put a vote on the record on this issue, thus making it impossible for Zero to use it as a campaign issue//
What you said.