Look for a big ol’ love fest when Gen. David Petraeus testifies before Congress tomorrow. Sen. McCain will get to go before Sen. Obama or Clinton in “questioning” the general, based on seniority.

Don’t expect Clinton or Obama to speak until late afternoon — one of them will soon be the party standard-bearer, but Senate rules break for no one. “In the ideological duel that will unfold tomorrow, [Sen. John] McCain will have a distinct logistical advantage, Republicans are quick to note,” Jonathan Weisman writes in The Washington Post.

“As the ranking Republican on the Armed Services Committee, he will deliver the second statement and the second set of questions, and will have the right to interject at will. Allies said he is likely to toss out Clinton’s statement from the September hearing that it would take ‘a willing suspension of disbelief’ to accept Petraeus’s security assessment, and Clinton — lacking seniority — will only be able to watch.”

Expect McCain to intone preachy, yet gushing, monologues where he all but gets down on his knees to kiss the general’s butt.

This is why the Democrats need to have a candidate. McCain has a free and clear path. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton is more and more becoming the Ralph Nader of 2008. If we lose again, she will join Ralph in the Ego for Ego’s Sake Hall of Fame.