Jim Webb, the author and former senator from Virginia who also served as secretary of the Navy under President Ronald Reagan, is weighing an independent bid for the presidency, according to a press release sent by his campaign on Monday.
Webb, who is currently running for the Democratic presidential nomination and whose views on foreign policy, affirmative action, and other issues are widely considered out of step with his current party, will give a press conference on Tuesday, Oct. 20.
"Senator Jim Webb will hold a press conference on Tuesday, October 20, 2015, to discuss his candidacy, the campaign and his views of the political parties in the current election cycle," said the release, which was headlined "Jim Webb To Consider Independent Run."
Webb has earned plaudits from some conservatives for his approach to China and other foreign policy issues, but many left-wing commentators have expressed exasperation with his candidacy. A blogger at Salon called Webb the "biggest loser" in last Tuesday’s Democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas.
