Former Senator Jim Webb of Virginia Running for President

The ex- Virginia senator’s announcement leads with foreign policy, highlighting the candidate’s military service, stressing his opposition to Bush’s war in Iraq and Obama’s war in Libya, and warning against “China’s increasingly aggressive military posture” in East and Southeast Asia.

He was secretary of the Navy, but his tenure was rocky, and as Ronald Reagan famously wrote after Webb resigned, “I do not think [the] Navy was sorry to see him go”.

The Democrat announced that he formed an exploratory committee in November, and has traveled to several early-primary states.

Webb has made frequent trips to the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire, but without the impact that Clinton brings to the race or Vermont Sen.

He hasn’t been a Democrat for all that long: Webb switched parties to challenge Republican Sen.

He said in his statement that as president, he wouldn’t have urged the invasion of Iraq and, as senator, he wouldn’t have voted to authorize it in 2003, as Clinton did. That didn’t stop Jim Webb from unveiling his bid for the White House via email and his campaign website, however – and given his penchant for unpredictability, it somehow seems fitting.

“We all need to think through these issues with a care that recognizes the need for change but also respects the complicated history of the Civil War”, Webb wrote.

Webb also brings a knack for charting his own course.

Fifteen Republicans are officially seeking the their party’s nomination, including ex- Florida governor Jeb Bush and conservative Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. He served as a company commander in Vietnam and received the Navy Cross, Silver Star, and two Bronze Stars in addition to his two Purple Hearts.

He said improving national security, criminal justice reform, expanded educational opportunities and economic fairness that benefits working people will be the focuses of his presidential campaign. In 1964, Webb earned appointment to the United States Naval Academyin Annapolis, Maryland.

So far, polls show Democratic voters with little interest in such an unusual blend.

Even so, there are a couple of obvious trends that we can safely make at this point in the race: ex- secretary of state Hillary Clinton is the predominate, unassuming front runner.