updated 4:24 p.m. ET Aug. 20, 2007

AUSTIN, Texas - Already one of the most famous sports figures on the planet, Lance Armstrong now has his sights set on becoming a political tour de force.

The seven-time winner of the Tour de France, who inspired millions with his recovery from testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs and brain, is using his celebrity and forceful personality to push policy makers to address cancer issues.

He’s already thrown the “Livestrong Army” — the legion of fans and cancer survivors who support his Lance Armstrong Foundation — behind a $3 billion research initiative in Texas. He tackles presidential politics Aug. 27-28 with televised forums with Democrat and Republican candidates in Iowa.

“This is a damn war for me. It’s nothing other than that,” Armstrong told The Associated Press. “I had the disease and I hate it and I hate that we haven’t made enough progress against it.”

The goal of the televised forums is to get the candidates talking about battling a disease that kills more than 550,000 Americans every year. The forums will be co-hosted by MSNBC’s Chris Matthews and broadcast live on the cable network.

Just as they would discuss issues like terrorism or taxes, Armstrong said, “I think whoever wants to be commander in chief ought to answer the cancer question.”

While some celebrities risk alienating fans when they take up political causes, Darrell West, a political science professor at Brown University and author of the book “Celebrity Politics,” said Armstrong is tackling an issue that affects nearly every family in the country and he brings unquestioned credibility.

“Lance Armstrong is a major player,” West said. “When he speaks about cancer people pay attention. He can draw a crowd and he has unique credibility as a cancer survivor.”

Armstrong retired from professional cycling in 2005 with a reputation as one of the toughest and fiercest competitors in the world.

He had been stricken with cancer in 1996 and doctors gave him less than a 50 percent chance to live. His 18-month battle to survive included grueling chemotherapy and a brain operation to remove the tumors.

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When he dominated one of the world’s most grueling sporting events from 1999-2005, he became a role model for cancer patients worldwide.

Since retiring, he’s focused on raising awareness about research. In a 2005 interview, he said he wanted to use his celebrity to influence policy makers much like rock singer Bono has done on aid for Africa.

Armstrong was an influential figure at the Texas Capitol in May when he testified at a public hearing and lobbied in private to support a 10-year, $3 billion initiative to fund cutting edge cancer research.

Personal phone calls to Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and several senators, and his tearful testimony before the Senate Finance Committee helped rally support. Although several senators had been skeptical of the plan before the meeting, it passed unanimously.

“This is an investment in human life,” Armstrong said. “I was worried this is just going to slip away. I was so competitive. It felt like the old days and it was something I wanted so badly.”

Sen. Jane Nelson, the Republican who sponsored the bill, credited Armstrong’s testimony as key to its passage.

“He has a compelling story to tell, and he communicates it from the heart. So many athletes use their fame to promote themselves,” Nelson said. “Lance uses his for a cause that is important to him personally and to most Texans.”

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