Jim Webb — author, former Secretary of the Navy under Ronald Reagan, and former U.S. Senator from Virginia — has officially thrown his hat into the Democratic 2016 presidential nomination. From his press statement:
(O)ur country needs a fresh approach to solving the problems that confront us and too often unnecessarily divide us. We need to shake the hold of these shadow elites on our political process. Our elected officials need to get back to the basics of good governance and to remember that their principal obligations are to protect our national interests abroad and to ensure a level playing field here at home, especially for those who otherwise have no voice in the corridors of power. And at the same time our fellow Americans need proven, experienced leadership that can be trusted to move us forward from a new President’s first days in office.
I believe I can offer both.
There are a couple of things that make Webb formidable in the Democratic nomination contest.
First, Webb’s appeal cuts across party lines — Republicans, Democrats, independents, and that “Reagan Democrat” vibe — in a way no other candidate does.
Second, Webb has a base of strength in Appalachia that makes him a welcome asset on a national ticket, an area which formerly had been a Democratic stronghold that turned against Obama over the last six years in a big way.
Third, Webb is strong on national defense in a way that makes war hawks on the right blush. People forget that Webb resigned from the Reagan administration over the policy to reduce the size of the surface fleet. In an era of “swarming” and the looming threat of Russia and China, once again Webb was proven a visionary.
Lastly, one has to remember Webb’s background and resume. Webb has long been a darling of the Lew Rockwell crowd, a decorated war veteran, and an accomplished author. People think of Webb as this brooding thinker considering the great matters of our time in a Washington office. At his core, he is a consummate and savvy political operator who wants to win and understands what it takes to get there.
Republicans take note — this changes things.
