Jim Webb’s Presidential Campaign Teases Possible Independent Run

[herding cats]

Source: Bloomberg

Jim Webb, a Democratic presidential candidate, will consider running as an independent and plans to hold a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington tomorrow at 1pm, his campaign says in a statement.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/trackers/2015-10-19/jim-webb-s-presidential-campaign-teases-possible-independent-run

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I'll look for more info. I just got this and thought I'd share it now for the sheer oddity value of it.

AP article:

Webb to consider leaving the Democratic race and running for president as an independent

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jim Webb's campaign says he is considering leaving the race for the Democratic nomination and running for president as an independent.

The former Virginia senator's campaign says in a statement that he'll "discuss his candidacy, the campaign and his views of the political parties" during a press conference Tuesday.

During the first Democratic debate last week Webb complained repeatedly about how little time he had to answer questions. He said Thursday he felt the debate had been "rigged in terms of who was going to get the time on the floor."
http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2015/10/19/webb-to-consider-running-for-president-as-an-independent

[geek tragedy]

1. vanity campaign run by a bitter loser who belongs in a different decade nt

[elehhhhna]

2. Yep

[herding cats]

5. Where I'm from we call it a 'poutrage'

Sure he'll get some money from conservatives to fund his attempt at a spoiler campaign, but they better be careful, he's just as likely to siphon off old school conservative Republicans as conservative Democrats.

[geek tragedy]

6. Webb's constituency voted for Reagan nt

[herding cats]

7. Nice to know I had him pegged correctly.

Thanks for the info.

[geek tragedy]

8. he served in Reagan's administration. nt

[herding cats]

9. That I did know.

I've also seen him praise Reagan. It was quite...off putting, to say it politely.

[thesquanderer]

39. Unfortunately, a lot of Dems voted for Reagan (n/t)

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. Oh yeah. That'll make all the difference.

[ejbr]

19. +1 n/t

[Yupster]

23. I wonder how much of his support will stick with him

If he runs as an independent.

If he keeps half his support, that will be a family in Tennessee I think.

[Blasphemer]

4. Sounds good to me

It's unlikely to go anywhere but if it does, he'd take votes from what's left of the non-crazy wing of the GOP, not from Dems.

[Adrahil]

10. Actually, I could see him drawing some Republicans if the GOP nominates a nut. nt

[herding cats]

13. That was my thought

He's so far to the Right if you didn't know he was a Democrat you couldn't tell it by just listening to him. He's always reminded me of the old Republican party, from back before they went totally insane. Which a few old school Republicans might just be missing right about now.

[mountain grammy]

15. Agree.. run Jim, run Would love to see some more of

Alec Baldwin doing Jim Webb.

[TexasBushwhacker]

24. That was great, wasn't it? n/t

[William Seger]

45. Larry David did a really good Bernie, too (n/t)

[timdog44]

18. And I don't see

where the GOP can nominate anyone but a nut. Squirrel heaven over there.

[Adrahil]

36. LOL. Well said. nt

[Liberalagogo]

20. If?

[Wabbajack_]

46. My feeling is

Any Republican that would vote for him wouldn't vote for Trump/Cruz/Carson anyway, so he'd only be taking Dem votes.

[Darb]

11. That should cost Bush some votes.

Hehehe

[TBF]

12. Bizarre ...

nt

[ToxMarz]

14. Good, he can debate himself and talk all he wants. Still no one will want to hear what he has to say

[Robbins]

16. So

Bernie has been attacked since he's independent running for democratic nomination but has ruled out running as spoiler. But,webb an actual democratic,although a DINO,is threatening to run as independent.Tells you who the real dem is.

[Jim Lane]

17. Webb might be playing 11th-dimensional chess.

As others have pointed out in this thread, he might well help the Democratic Party by dropping out of the nomination race and getting on the November ballot in as many states as possible as an independent or third-party candidate.

Of course, a great deal would depend on who the major-party nominees are. Webb would take more votes from Sanders than from Clinton, and more from Cruz than from Bush.

[Xipe Totec]

22. Neither Cruz not Bush have any votes to lose as it is. nt

[thesquanderer]

40. Maybe he sees an opening if Trump actually manages to get the nomination (n/t)

[Jim Lane]

41. He probably does see an opening but I think he's kidding himself.

People like George Pataki and Jim Gilmore thought they saw an opening to win the Republican nomination.

Webb, in the general election, positioning himself between the two major-party nominees, would be trying to work the same vein as John Anderson did in 1980. Anderson got about 6.6% of the popular vote and zero electoral votes. As for Perot in 1992, Webb does not have huge wealth and doesn't have Perot's name recognition or the advantage of a prominent business career, so I doubt he could even approach Perot's 18.9%.

I agree with you that his best prospect is if the Republicans nominate someone so "out there" on one basis or another that significant numbers of Republicans are willing to vote for someone who served in the Senate as a Democrat. Many Republicans would reject Trump on personal qualifications; many would reject Cruz on ideology; if Carson somehow got the nomination, Webb might pick up some racists (though AFAIK he himself is not a racist).

[lovemydog]

21. Let's suggest some campaign slogans:

Give Me More Time! I Want More Time!

Hey Bernie, please mention me again so someone will pay attention.

I will strangle the deficit like I strangled that jerk who threw a grenade at me.

I hate immigrants a lot more than those filthy democrats.

[TexasBushwhacker]

25. Well, perception is everything

"The former Virginia senator's campaign says in a statement that he'll "discuss his candidacy, the campaign and his views of the political parties" during a press conference Tuesday."

That could just as easily mean that's he'll announce he's dropping out, with a side if griping.

[still_one]

26. I suspect he will be given even less opportunity to speak by the MSM

[3catwoman3]

27. Does he have...

...enough supporters that it matters?

[lobodons]

28. Jim Webb is a better GOP candidate than any one in their Clown Car

Jim Webb would make a much better GOP candidate than anyone currently in the GOP Clown Car.

[Plucketeer]

29. NEWS ALERT!

Just in: Presidential aspirant, Jim Webb pulled the pin on a live grenade today, then held it close to his chest as ransom for more press time. As reporters dived for cover, Webb replaced the pin and started laughing. "Now that I've got your attention" Webb said "Let me tell of my time in combat and how that'll help me navigate the perils of public service."

[Capt.Rocky300]

34. Good one.

[JoePhilly]

30. Good, he'd draw republican voters.

[EL34x4]

43. History tells us that strong independent runs

Almost always hurt the incumbent party. Anderson, Perot, Nader, just three off the top of my head in recent history.

[JoePhilly]

47. What's Webb's current poll level in the Dem primary????

Its about ZERO.

Dems clearly don't want him. Republicans however, given the nutjobs in their primary, might just like him.

[EL34x4]

48. That's wishful thinking

Republicans aren't going to vote for Jim Webb. The policy positions he holds that might appeal to a certain demographic of conservative Republican voters are already covered by other (R) candidates. In addition, his pro-choice and ACA support are liabilities to this very demographic.

You are right about his low polling. Probably not enough to sway the race either way. Webb's time is gone. He's a throwback to a different era.

[JoePhilly]

49. Funny you say that ....

... from DU's sister site, minutes ago ...

http://www.discussionist.com/1015603391

That poster is very RW.

[left-of-center2012]

31. He was Reagan's Secretary of the Navy

Who are his supporters?

[Comrade Grumpy]

32. A Webb indie run would be interesting.

The guy is clearly not wedded to any one party.

He has a sort of non-hip working class populist schtick. Anti-Wall Street, but definitely not a "social justice" guy.

He might attract Reagan Democrats and non-insane conservatives, both GOP and independent.

If he gets any traction at all. He just seemed peevish and whiny at the debate.

[TipTok]

33. It was pretty obvious that he was in a different class than the others on the stage...

[ileus]

35. Webb is probably my #1 pick at the moment.

[SoapBox]

37. Yay!

Because it'll be Buh-Bye!

[tomm2thumbs]

38. A bit too angry for my taste - if he's angry in a debate, imagine him on the world stage

Plus I didn't think he had much to offer in terms of making America better, especially across racial lines. Guess he'll peel some GOP moderate votes, but frankly, he became a cartoon of an angry man after his griping repeatedly during the debate instead of offering up ideas. Every breath he put out there complaining was a breath he didn't use to show his prowess as a leader.

Blaming others for your situation -- sounds very good for GOP'ers to get behind.

[davidpdx]

42. A huge mistake by Webb

He was barely relevant, now we can add being barely credible.

[Robbins]

44. Liberals and progressives will join him

in being ilrelavant.

[FSogol]

50. Don't most states have a sore loser law? Since he ran for the Democratic nomination, he cannot

appear on the ballot as an independent.

[brooklynite]

51. Not applicable

"running as a Democrat" for FEC purposes has nothing to do with filing for inclusion on a State ballot. By withdrawing before any voting occurs, he avoids the sore loser provision.

[FSogol]

52. If he was too lazy to put together an organization to get on the ballot in VA, what makes any think

do it as an independent? Without appearing in the Democratic debates, he'll get even less notice.