Webb to Remain in Senate, No longer VP Candidate

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Webb to Remain in Senate, No longer VP Candidate

July 07, 2008 4:27 PM

ABC News' Matthew Jaffe Reports: Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., long rumored to be a leading candidate for Sen. Barack Obama's choice as his vice-presidential running mate, announced Monday that he intends to remain in his Senate post.

"Last week I communicated to Senator Obama and his presidential campaign my firm intention to remain in the United States Senate, where I believe I am best equipped to serve the people of Virginia and this country," Webb said in a statement. "Under no circumstances will I be a candidate for Vice President."

Webb's announcement may be seen by some as a surprise, since as recently as a few weeks ago Webb's Capitol Hill colleagues were referring to him as "Mr. Vice President", as Obama's close friend Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., teasingly did on the Senate floor in June. But Webb said Monday that he believes his skills are best suited to the Senate, not the number two spot.

"A year and a half ago, the people of Virginia honored me with election to the U.S. Senate," Webb said in his statement. "I entered elective politics because of my commitment to strengthen America's national security posture, to promote economic fairness, and to increase government accountability. I have worked hard to deliver upon that commitment, and I am convinced that my efforts and talents toward those ends are best served in the Senate."

Although he will not be serving as Obama's running mate, Webb promised to do all he can to help the Democratic candidate win the Oval Office. If Obama can carry Virginia, it would mark the first time a Democrat had pulled off the feat since 1964.

"At this time I am also renewing my commitment to work hard to make sure that Senator Obama wins both Virginia and the presidency this November," said Webb. "He is a man who speaks eloquently about our national goals and calls for the practical solutions that must be put into place to obtain them. I will proudly campaign for him."

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine said that he was pleased that Webb will continue serving the Old Dominion state.

"While I believe that Senator Jim Webb would have made a great vice president, it is good news for Virginia that he will continue to represent the Commonwealth in the U.S. Senate," Kaine said in a statement. "In a very short period of time, Jim has made us proud to call him our Senator. His service to Virginia and to the country has been invaluable and he and Mark Warner are going to make a great team after this November's election."

Webb was regarded as a strong contender to share the ticket with Obama in part because of the junior Virginia senator's strengths in foreign policy and military affairs. Webb served in Vietnam and was later awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star Medal, two Bronze Star Medals, and two Purple Hearts. He also finished first in his class of 243 at the Marine Corps Officers' Basic School in Quantico, Virginia. In 1987, Webb became the first Naval Academy graduate to serve in the military and then become Secretary of the Navy, a position he held under President Ronald Reagan.

The Senator hails from a family of fighters. As he wrote in his 2004 book "Born Fighting", Webb's ancestors have fought in every major American war. Not only did Webb carry on that tradition, but so did his son Jimmy, a Marine who served in Iraq. During his victorious 2006 campaign for Senate against incumbent Republican George Allen, Webb often wore Jimmy's old combat boots on the trail.

But Webb's accomplishments are not limited to military service and politics. He has written eight books, including six best-selling novels, as well as working as a screenwriter and producer in Hollywood. Webb even has an Emmy thanks to his PBS coverage of Marines in Beirut.

As senator, Webb serves on the Foreign Relations, Armed Services, Veterans Affairs, and Joint Economic committees. However, his time in office has not been immune from controversy. At a White House reception on November 28, 2006, Webb declined to stand in line to have his picture taken with President Bush. In 2007, one of Webb's aides was arrested for carrying the Senator's loaded pistol into a Capitol Hill office building.

But there have also been some highlights. In January 2007, Webb delivered the Democratic response to Bush's State of the Union address, a speech in which Webb hit out at Bush's handling of the Iraq war, which, like Obama, Webb opposed from the start. Just last month, Webb spearheaded the passage of the new GI Bill, an accomplishment that Webb said gave him "renewed confidence that the Congress can indeed work effectively across party lines and address the concerns of our citizens."

July 7, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (72)

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Here's a smart democrat. He should be running for the president.

Posted by: skinny dog | Jul 7, 2008 4:51:05 PM

Sad day. He was my #1 choice. I'm so disappointed. I don't even have a preference anymore.

Posted by: Vanessa | Jul 7, 2008 4:51:49 PM

Smart choice. Distance as far as you can from a phony who will be a sure loser.

Posted by: skinny dog | Jul 7, 2008 4:58:39 PM

You have to wonder about all these potential VP nominees running AWAY from an Obama ticket. It seems that regardless of the visibility they might receive, they don't want to attach themselves yet again to a losing Democratic ticket. Ten years from now, who will even remember Gore and Kerry's running mates (Lieberman and Edwards). Come to think of it, who will even remember those losers, Gore or Kerry.

Posted by: s. valenti | Jul 7, 2008 4:59:59 PM

Vanessa,

How about Daschle? He's been an avid supporter and strategist. He knows how to get into the club.

Posted by: fact check | Jul 7, 2008 5:00:56 PM

How very odd............that someone wouldn't want to be on Obama's ticket. I don't think it would happen unless there are serious doubts about Obama himself.

Posted by: chattyway | Jul 7, 2008 5:06:33 PM

Obama will pick Clinton. Anybody that doesn't realize this, isn't very smart. Webb would not have been a good pick because he has said a few sexist things and had two messy divorces. Besides, he is not a very good politician and has a tendency to inssrt foot in mouth.

Posted by: Kevin | Jul 7, 2008 5:06:42 PM

s. valenti

Who is running away from Obama's ticket?

Posted by: Kevin | Jul 7, 2008 5:07:33 PM

Gov. Ted Strickland probably wasn't on the list in the first place. People keep saying he is popular in Ohio, but he is not that popular. His popularity is moderate at best, just like Charlie Crist is in Florida. Jim Webb, IMO, wasn't a strong candidate. he comes with too much baggage. If you are willing to live with Webb's bagagge, why not pick Hillary and live with her baggage? At least she brings cash and incredible heft.

Posted by: Kevin | Jul 7, 2008 5:10:02 PM

Does he know something we do not know, yet? Or could it be that someone who has so many more credentials, so much more knowledge, and so much more experience and wisdom would find it too stressful and tedious to provide the amen corner for someone who knows so little? He surely has made a wise decision.

Posted by: georgia | Jul 7, 2008 5:12:48 PM

Daschle won't do. South Dakota is a red state and out of reach for Dems. Honestly I don't know who else would fit the bill. Webbs background is on point for everything Obama needs in VP.

*Born in Missouri (purple state)
*Senator of Virgina (red states leaning blue)
*Vietnam war Viet
*Served as the first Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs then Secretary of the Navy under the Regan administration
*Gained the highest medal awarded in the Navy

Posted by: Vanessa | Jul 7, 2008 5:13:12 PM

Hillary carries TOO much baggage. And polls suggest even if Obama selects her as VP her supporters are still likely to vote McCain or stay home.
Also. The Republicans would have a field day replaying the debates of Clinton attacking Obama. Not a good fit.

Posted by: Vanessa | Jul 7, 2008 5:16:53 PM

a red state and out of reach for Dems

Posted by: Vanessa | Jul 7, 2008 5:13:12 PM
=====

That's how this phony been fooling you people - he will make red states into play.

Posted by: fact check | Jul 7, 2008 5:19:09 PM

Vanessa it's going to be Biden.
He couldn't pick Webb really anyway unfortunately...
He couldn't pick a military guy because it is not what he is saying is the solution and that makes him look like he is weak on military and focusing on something he says is not the problem here.

Plus those papers he wrote about women...that would have ended upa very large hornets nest.

It's goign to be biden.

Hillary has the problem that the biggest thing a VP needs to do is catch the country heaven forbid something happen to the President...

The long primary (whether you like her or not) would leave suspicion that would hobble any Presidency she would try to do.

Plus Biden is the smartest guy about foreign policy on the hill...
and no one including hillary would want to go up on a one on one debate with him about anything.

McAuliffe guessed it's goingto be Biden today too.

Posted by: dl | Jul 7, 2008 5:21:44 PM

and fact check

go loo at the facts...there are a lot of red states that look like they may go blue or bluish this fall.

It's the economy stupid...and a man running around talking about war with Iran for the past year and a half (and now his advisors have finally gotten him to shut up about it)

Posted by: dl | Jul 7, 2008 5:24:11 PM

You BhO strategies are way up in the air, thin air like that on the Moon.

Posted by: fact check | Jul 7, 2008 5:30:32 PM

Nobama clearly doesn't qualify to run for the Governor of any State much less the Presidency. A well written speech by Nobama stating that he now realizes this to finally end the puppet farce would be the right and timely thing for him to do.

In the interim the Socialist party is the smart vote. The Democratic and Republican parties are for the old people.

Posted by: Enlightened grasshopper | Jul 7, 2008 5:39:26 PM

Interesting color coded US. States. Obama and Bush are much too similar for me. The enlightened one has a good idea. Change I can believe in is the Socialist party.

Posted by: Erika Vonshuller | Jul 7, 2008 5:48:09 PM

For those who are against senator Obama on this site, why don't you ask the good senator to select you as a running mate? HAH!!!!

Posted by: shalom | Jul 7, 2008 6:25:14 PM

At least Webb knows the limits of his own qualifications, as oppose to Obama.

Posted by: Sylvia Johnsen | Jul 7, 2008 6:46:24 PM

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