Former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb announced on Wednesday an exploratory committee to run for president in 2016, which makes him the first high-profile Democrat to take that formal step toward a presidential candidacy.
Webb issued a 14-minute statement on YouTube and launched a new website, Webb2016.com. He has been openly mulling a presidential bid for weeks.
“I’d like to take a few minutes of your time to ask you to consider the most important question facing America today,” Webb said to open the video. “Is it possible for us to return to a leadership environment when people from both political parties and from all philosophical points of views would feel compelled to work together for the common good?”
The Real Clear Politics average shows Webb pulling 1.5 percent of the Democratic primary vote. Hillary Clinton, who is expected to announce her decision about whether she will run after the first of the year, is currently the prohibitive favorite with 63.4 percent of the RCP average.
