This article contains spoilers for Extreme Carnage Alpha #1.
Carnage is actually setting up his own presidential bid. Cletus Kasady was probably one of the most dangerous men in the Marvel Universe before he ever bonded with a symbiote, transforming himself into Carnage - as much a bloody force of nature as a serial killer. What's more, in Extreme Carnage Alpha #1 Iron Man and Anti-Venom learn the threat of Carnage is far from over, when Carnage returns in a terrifying new way.
Kasady may be dead, but he has left an indelible imprint upon his symbiote due to the depth of their bond. As a result, the symbiote is now moving from host to host, wreaking havoc and shedding blood. Making matters worse, it doesn't take long for the heroes to begin to realize it has a plan - to capitalize on the general sense of hostility towards aliens in the wake of the King in Black event. Carnage simply wants to ensure everybody turns on everybody else, causing as much pain and suffering as possible. Yes, the symbiote really is still that sadistic.
Extreme Carnage Alpha #1, by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Manuel Garcia, reveals the symbiote has chosen the perfect host; a prejudiced anti-alien senator named Senator Krane, who has formed an alliance with the Friends of Humanity. This populist right-wing group has traditionally targeted mutants, but in the wake of Knull's invasion, they've turned their attention to aliens. They want to send a message to the Tony Starks and Charles Xaviers of the world, that aliens are not welcome on Earth and should not be harbored. But here's the catch; it's pretty clear Senator Krane, possessed by Carnage, is intending to make a presidential bid.
It's difficult to say whether the Carnage symbiote is serious about becoming president. It could all be a gambit, a trick to give itself an opportunity to stir up as much hatred and prejudice as possible. Previous leaders of the Friends of Humanity - including Senator Graydon Greed, son of Mystique and Sabretooth - have succeeded in stirring up anti-mutant violence across the entire United States, and Carnage could simply be trying to achieve the same goal. Alternatively, though, he really may have his sights set on the White House, simply because he'd love to get control of the U.S. military and the nuclear codes.
Bonded with a U.S. senator, the symbiote is showing more tactical and strategic ability than ever before. In Extreme Carnage Alpha #1, it successfully manipulates Flash Thompson's Anti-Venom into exposing himself at a rally, which will help stir things up nicely - and the symbiote doesn't mind that Thompson has figured out its secret. This time around, the Carnage symbiote feels as though it's a Machiavellian schemer rather than a slash-and-hack villain; the ghost of Cletus Kasady may cause more problems now he's dead than he ever did while he was alive.