BREAKING NEWS:
U.S. SEN. JIM WEBB WILL NOT SEEK REELECTION AND WILL ANNOUNCE HIS DECISION LATER TODAY ACCORDING TO POLITICO
As Virginia Virtucon was first to report back on Jan. 25, Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) will announce he is not going to seek re-election in 2012.
Webb won’t seek reelection
Virginia Senator Jim Webb plans to announce today that he won’t seek reelection, a senior Senate source said.
Webb appeared likely to face a rematch with former Senator George Allen, whom he beat in a bruising 2006 contest. He had expressed ambivalence about the prospect of another run, and has said he never planned a life in politics.
Keeping him in the Senate had been a top priority for the Democratic leadership, with no Democrat of Webb’s prominence, and his centrist politics, openly exploring the race. Senate Democratic leaders view Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine, the former Virginia governor, as a top prospect to replace him, despite Kaine’s disavowals that he’s looking at the race. Kaine, the source said, hasn’t shut the door on the possibility.
Webb’s departure isn’t entirely a surprise. He recalled in a recent interview that he’d told President Obama in the fall of 2009 that his push for health care legislation would end in “disaster.”
“The healthcare issue really took away a lot of the credibility of the new leadership–Obama particularly–the Reid-Pelosi-Obama trio,” he said.
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray said in a statement:
Jim Webb has been a strong Senator and a true advocate for Virginia. I am grateful for his decades of service to our country. The people of Virginia have been well represented in the United States by two Democratic Senators who are fierce advocates for their state. As Republicans face a brutal primary between a flawed Washington establishment candidate and a right-wing extremist who is raising money at a good clip, Democrats will field a strong candidate. The 2012 Virginia Senate race will be competitive but Democrats will prevail there just like we did in 2006 and 2008.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee quickly issued this reminder:
Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tim Kaine said he wouldn’t run for Senate in his native Virginia if Sen. Jim Webb (D) doesn’t seek reelection. Kaine, a popular former governor of Virginia, said he expects Webb to seek a second term, and even if Webb were to retire, he wouldn’t seek that job…..If Webb doesn’t seek another term, it could add to a difficult electoral landscape for Senate Democrats heading into 2012. (The Hill, Kaine says no to Senate run if Webb retires, 1/18/11)
Here is Webb’s statement:
“Five years ago this week, on February 8, 2006, I announced my intention to run for the United States Senate. We had neither campaign funds nor a staff. We were challenged in a primary, and trailed the incumbent in the general election by more than 30 points in the polls.
Over the next nine months we focused relentlessly on the need to reorient our national security policy, to restore economic fairness and social justice, and to bring greater accountability in our government. I will always be grateful for the spirit and energy that was brought into this campaign by thousands of loyal and committed volunteers. Their enthusiasm and sheer numbers were truly the difference in that election.
It has been a great and continuing privilege to serve in the United States Senate. I am very proud of my talented and dedicated staff, which has worked tirelessly to resolve the issues on which I based my candidacy, and to protect the interests of all Virginians in this national forum. Among other contributions we have given our Post- 9/11 veterans the best GI Bill since World War Two; we have taken the lead in reforming our criminal justice system; we have led the way toward stronger relations in East and Southeast Asia; and we have been a strong voice in calling on China to act more responsibly in the world community. We will continue to work on these and other issues throughout the rest of my term.
However, after much thought and consideration I have decided to return to the private sector, where I have spent most of my professional life, and will not seek re-election in 2012.
Notwithstanding this decision, I have every intention of remaining involved in the issues that affect the well-being and the future of our country.”
The nutroots are already frenetic with fear that Tim Kaine will go back on his word and run after all.
notlarrysabato Perriello will not challenge Kaine for the nomination. Too close with the White House. Mark my words. We need to look elsewhere.
notlarrysabato I would strongly support @CreighDeeds over @timkaine for Senate, but he isn’t going to run. We need to find someone ASAP.
notlarrysabato Mame Reiley who is a VA powerhouse has been talking up Boucher in case Webb retires.notlarrysabato BREAKING: Hearing strong VA progressive Delegate @dlenglin is not ruling out a run for Senate.notlarrysabatoThe only way to stop Tim Kaine (who is very popular in the Richmond area) is a huge margin in NoVA- @dlenglin could be perfect for this.
Developing . . .
Filed under: 2012 Elections, Sen. Thinskin Gump (D-WashPo), Virginia Politics
Woo Hoo!! I never liked him and thought his 2006 election was a fluke in a strong Democrat year.
Hardly surprising…except for the fact that he is going back to the “private sector” and not seeking out the Secretary of Defense post. I thought that was almost a lock, personally.
Webb saw the writing on the wall and surrendered. Winning by less than .5 percent with an electoral tsunami and a disgraceful WaPo campaign at your back is different than having to defend a miserable record and Obamacare vote in a state where Dems have gotten slaughtered during the last two elections with things looking no better this time around.
As for Sec Def, that was always a fanatasy. If he went for Sec Def there would be a thorough examination of his poor performance as Sec Navy and his improper relationship with a female cadet while he was an instructor at the USNA. Indeed, that probably figured into his calculus this time around in his Senate run. He received absolutely no scrutiny in 2006. As a sitting Senator even the lazy and biased MSM would have to take a look at his past with disasterous results for Webb.
Why would anyone be surprised? Webb has prematurely quit every job he’s ever had. He doesn’t play well with others, he has to be the boss and readily admits that he prefers solitary activities, writing is his first love. He simply doesn’t have the personality or temperament to be in the Senate. I have no doubt that he hated the job.
Interesting rumors coming out Fairfax dems. More soon.
As Hannitymight say: WEBB is a great Amurican!!. He is a giant next to the likes of Cowboy George…..and he spent his time in the Senate working on key issues including those involving Veterans…..
With Webb, another Democrat moderate jumping ship, what is becoming clear is the extremists on the left have taken over the party. Moderate Democrats and Independents have been fleeing Obama and the Dems for months. Despite the protests from the left wing nuts neither Obama nor their party are any longer in the vicinity of being moderate.
I’ve been meaning to get around to writing about how the centrist Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) is now bankrupt and shutting its doors for good. Seems they couldn’t compete with all the left-wing groups getting money from Soros and the owner of Progressive Insurance.