WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (UPI) — The Democratic race for president lost a candidate Tuesday, as former Virginia senator Jim Webb formally announced he’s dropping from the race.
Webb said the main reason he is leaving the race is because of what he sees as insurmountable differences between his views and the power structure of the Democratic party.
“That party is filled with millions of dedicated, hard-working Americans. But its hierarchy is not comfortable with many of the policies that I have laid forth, and frankly I am not that comfortable with many of theirs,” he said in a statement posted to his website. “For this reason I am withdrawing from any consideration of being the Democratic Party’s nominee for the Presidency.”
Although Webb dropped from the Democratic race, his campaign said he still might seek the presidency as an independent.
According to the campaign, Webb is scheduled to discuss “his candidacy, the campaign, and his views of the political parties in the current election cycle” in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
Webb, formerly a Republican and Secretary of the Navy under President Ronald Reagan, became a Democrat in 2006. He was considered a longshot by some to win the Democratic nomination — partly because of the strength of the Hillary Clinton campaign.
“This does not reduce in any way my concerns about the challenges facing our country, my belief that I can provide the best leadership in order to meet these challenges, or my intentions to remain fully engaged in the debates that are facing us,” Webb said. “How I remain as a voice will depend on what kind of support I am shown in the coming days and weeks as I meet with people from all sides of America’s political landscape. And I intend to do that.”
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