Jim Webb to Democratic Party: It's not me, it's you
Former Sen. Jim Webb withdrew his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination on Tuesday, criticizing the 鈥渆xtreme鈥� political climate and saying that he would instead consider an independent White House run.
"More people in this country call themselves political independents than Republicans or Democrats. I happen to agree with them," the former Virginia senator at the National Press Club in Washington.
鈥淚 fully accept that my views on many issues are not compatible with the power structure and the nominating base of the Democratic Party,鈥� Mr. Webb said. 鈥淔or this reason, I am withdrawing from any consideration of being the Democratic Party's nominee for the presidency.鈥�
The news came as little surprise. Since quietly announcing his entry to the race on his website in July, Webb has had little success in escaping the title of 鈥渓ongshot Democratic presidential candidate,鈥� and he has openly acknowledged his own odds of winning the nomination.
While his numbers squared , his biggest public platform at the first Democratic debate in Las Vegas consisted largely of complaints of not getting 鈥渆qual time鈥� and speaking almost the least of all five candidates onstage, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Logging only four days in New Hampshire and 20 days in Iowa, Webb also spent significantly than his Democratic opponents, reports CNN.
His remarks Tuesday also appear in the midst of a predictable political pattern.
Though the Democratic Party is 鈥渂eing nudged to the left,鈥� presumed frontrunner Hillary Clinton and newfound crowd favorite Bernie Sanders continue to dominate the field. 鈥淓very modern Democratic presidential race ends up with two candidates: a populist and a progressive,鈥� wrote political analyst Bill Schneider for Reuters last year.
Of all the Democrats 鈥渁uditioning鈥� to challenge Mrs. Clinton, Webb and Sen. Sanders both slid into the same category, he added.
鈥淲ebb鈥檚 real problem might be that he鈥檚 out of touch with both parties,鈥� writes 海角大神鈥檚 Peter Grier. 鈥淚n an era when partisanship has sorted Democrats and Republicans into relatively homogenous ideological groups, Webb is not easy to pin down.鈥�
Webb鈥檚 latest comments have people wondering if he is even still a Democrat 鈥� a question Webb says he is still searching to answer himself.
Today鈥檚 political candidates are he said.
According to , Webb will spend the coming weeks 鈥渢alking with people I have not felt comfortable talking with as a Democratic Party candidate.鈥�
鈥淚 feel much freer now, having cleared the air to do that,鈥� he said.
Asked if he is still a Democrat, Webb replied, 鈥淲e'll think about that.鈥�
