Former Sen. Jim Webb ‘Seriously’ Considering 2016 Presidential Bid
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Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Former Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., said Tuesday he’s “seriously” considering a 2016 presidential bid, and will make a decision within the next two to five months.
“I am seriously looking at the possibility of running for president,” Webb said in an appearance at the National Press Club.
“We’ve had a lot of discussions among people I respect and trust about the future of this country, and we’re going to continue to have these discussions over the next two to five months,” he said.
Webb added that he is looking for a “support base” for a potential campaign.
The 68-year-old decorated Marine Corps veteran, who served in the Senate from 2006-2012, recently conducted a three-day, 800-mile tour of Iowa, and has plans to visit New Hampshire in October.
As an economic populist staunchly opposed to American intervention abroad, Webb is seen as an intriguing challenger to presumptive Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton.
In the Senate, Webb opposed Clinton’s proposal to arm moderate Syrian rebels against the Assad regime. On Tuesday, he referred to U.S. policy in the Middle East as a “tangled mess,” but declined to hold Clinton responsible for the region’s current state when asked to evaluate her performance as secretary of state.
“I think that’s a question that really should be directed at Secretary Clinton. I’m not here to undermine her,” he said.
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