 | |
| Campaign | 2016 Democratic Party presidential primaries |
|---|---|
| Candidate | Jim Webb U.S. Senator (2007–2013) United States Secretary of the Navy (1987–1988) Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs (1984–1987) |
| Affiliation | Democratic Party |
| EC formed | November 19, 2014 |
| Announced | July 2, 2015 |
| Suspended | October 20, 2015 |
| Headquarters | Burke, Virginia |
| Receipts | US$764,992[1] |
| Slogan | Leadership You Can Trust |
| Website | |
| www.webb2016.com (archived - October 20, 2015) | |
The2016 presidential campaign ofJim Webb, the formerUnited States Senator fromVirginia, was officially launched when Webb, who also formerly served asSecretary of the Navy, announced his candidacy for theDemocratic Party's nomination forPresident of the United States in2016 on July 2, 2015.[2] As the author of ten books, Webb chose to make his announcement through writing an open letter on his campaign website. He withdrew from the Democratic race on October 20, 2015.[3] Following the withdrawal of his candidacy for the Democratic nomination, Webb openly considered running for president as anindependent before ruling out such a run on February 11, 2016.[4]
Webb has served as a Marine Corps officer, an assistant and full Congressional council, the firstassistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs, thesecretary of the Navy under PresidentRonald Reagan,[5] as well as a member of theUnited States Senate fromVirginia. In2006, he unseated incumbent RepublicanGeorge Allen. He served one full term before retiring in 2013 and was succeeded by fellow Democrat and former Virginia Governor,Tim Kaine. He has also written ten books, and won an Emmy for his work as a journalist.[6]
Webb's moderate policy stances, including issues such asgun control, foreign policy, and illegal immigration, led to speculation that he was a frontrunner for thevice presidential nomination in2008, although he ultimately took himself out of the running.[7][8][9][10][11]
On November 19, 2014, in a 14-minute video, Webb announced the formation of anexploratory committee in preparation for a possible bid for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.[12][13] He reaffirmed his moderate stances as a strength to a potential candidacy, including some criticisms of theAffordable Care Act despite having voted for it, and emphasized his belief that the Democratic Party had been neglecting the "white, working-class" vote in favor of pandering to minorities.[14][15]
On July 2, 2015, in a 2,000-word essay on his campaign website, Webb formally announced his candidacy.[2][15]
During his campaign, Webb spent significantly less time than other candidates visiting early primary states. Webb spent only four days campaigning in New Hampshire and twenty days campaigning in Iowa.[15]
As U.S. Senator from Virginia, Webb received grades of F from 2007 through 2009, D in 2010, F in 2011, and D in 2012 from theNational Taxpayers Union, aconservativetaxpayers advocacy organization.[16]
TheCato Institute's Center for Trade Policy Studies identifies Webb, during his U.S. Senate tenure, as having a modestlyprotectionist and mostly pro-subsidies voting record.[17]
On June 29, 2015, in aFacebook post, Webb issued a statement in favor of the US Supreme Court ruling in the case ofObergefell v. Hodges:
The finding onmarriage equality is an historically significant historical application of the 14th Amendment, ensuring that our government no longer discriminates but also more clearly defining the separation of church and state. The decision provides religious groups "proper protection" under the First Amendment to "continue to advocate" their beliefs regarding traditional marriage.[18]
On April 26, 2012, Webb voted in favor of theViolence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2012.[19]
On December 18, 2010, Webb voted in favor of theDon't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010.[19]
On October 22, 2009, Webb voted in favor of theNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, which included in Division E theMatthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which expands the federal hate crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.[19]
In the firstDemocratic presidential debate on October 13, Webb reaffirmed many of his moderate policy stances: Particular examples included his skepticism of gun control (pointing out that the other candidates, who were for gun control, were guarded by armed bodyguards on a regular basis), as well as his foreign policy credentials in regards to theMiddle East.[20] Also, on the topic of theBlack Lives Matter movement, when the candidates were asked if all lives matter or black lives matter, Webb was the only one who said "all lives matter."[21] As a result, Webb was the third most-searched of the five candidates onGoogle during the night, behind the frontrunnersHillary Clinton andBernie Sanders.[22] The candidates were asked "which enemy they were the proudest of making." He said "I would have to say the enemy soldier that threw the grenade that wounded me, but he's not around right now to talk to." Criticism included MSNBC identifying it as a "head-scratching moment" and noting "Webb's creepy smirk." Webb also gained notoriety for complaining that he did not have enough time.[23]
On October 20, 2015, Webb formally announced that he was withdrawing from the race for the Democratic nomination. He then confirmed that he was considering the possibility of mounting a bid as anindependent candidate.[24][25]
On February 11, 2016, Webb ruled out the prospect of an independent presidential bid, remarking that such a run would be "enormously costly and time sensitive" and that he couldn't "see the fundraising trajectory where we could make a realistic run."[4]
Individuals
I will not accept from Senator Obama, who did not feel it was his responsibility to serve our country in uniform, any lectures on my regard for those who did
