Paula Broadwell was considering a run for political office while she was having an affair with ex-CIA director David Petraeus, sources exclusively tell Page Six.
We’re told that earlier this year, ambitious Broadwell was hunting for an agent or a brand manager in New York to raise her profile and told friends she’d had interest from “both parties” because of her military background.
A source told us: “In the spring, Paula was looking at how to build an overall brand, how to take advantage of her time in the national media spotlight while promoting her book and leverage it into a production company or becoming a regular contributor on TV.
“She also said she was considering potentially running for office, and many people had come to her about that. She said she had gotten requests from both parties to consider running for office.
“She was also looking for opportunities to brand herself as a fitness expert on television and to appear in women’s magazines. She also wanted to do more philanthropic work for Wounded Warriors.
“Nobody knew, but what was interesting was that while she was conducting an affair with Petraeus, she was sounding out agents and brand managers with a political background.”
Meanwhile Petraeus, who testified to lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Friday, skipped a Thursday black-tie event at the Holland Society of New York gala honoring him. He was scheduled to receive the Gold Medal for Outstanding Achievement in World Leadership from Netherlands Ambassador to the US Rudolf Simon Bekink.
A source said, “Bekink didn’t dwell too much on Gen. Petraeus not being there but still praised him.” The invitation did not mention Petraeus by name, but as “a renowned world leader [who] has received many distinguished awards from foreign governments and the United States for his leadership. Our honoree has devoted his entire life to serving our country and is currently a leader in the highest echelon of government. He is an inspiration to all who have served with him.”