MSNBC just reported that Jim Webb is thinking about running as an independent.

[StevieM]

I seriously hope he doesn't do this. Unlike in 1992, when Perot took equally from both candidates, Webb would probably take more votes from the Democrats.

And you know that GOP donors would make sure that he was well-funded.

[BlueCheese]

1. I think he'd take equally from both major party candidates...

... which is to say, zero.

[arcane1]

2. He might take more votes from Democrats who live in 1950 n/t

[Vinca]

3. So how many votes would Dems lose? A dozen?

What's the size of Webb's family? The man should be running as a Republican anyway.

[TDale313]

4. His 1% would follow him?

I don't think this would hurt Dems. I don't quite get why he'd do this- but it was clear at the debate he was not in step with the Democratic Party and frankly did not come off well. Would an Independent run on his part be hampered by the so-called sore loser laws in some key states?

[DFW]

5. He could seriously take some votes away.

A few dozen if he doesn't get Republican funding, tens of thousands if he does.

[still_one]

6. Actually, I think he would take more votes from moderate republicans, at least those that still

exist

[geek tragedy]

7. Webb's voters are cultural conservatives who would never vote

Hillary for the same general reasons they didn't vote for Obama.

[zazen]

8. good: I've been opining that I wish he'd run as a Republican, and this is better

He's head and shoulders about the slate of Republican candidates, and Republicans who don't want to choose between their messed up notion of Democrats and the loons in their own party need a face-saving way to vote for a non-Democrat. I think Nixon and even Bob Dole are to the left of the Republican party today.

And I actually respect the guy and don't like the way he's been mocked in Democratic circles. I also think Sanders respects him, and that's good enough for me.

[Gothmog]

9. Webb is far closer to being a republican than he is to being a Democrat

Third party runs take a ton of work and money. It will be interesting to see how much the Kochs donate to Webb to help him get on the ballot

[karynnj]

10. I suspect it depends on who the candidates are

On many issues, Webb is closer to the Republicans than the Democrats. He was Reagan's Secretary of State. He is horrible on climate change. He also identifies with a group that has been republican in more recent elections than Democratic. He was NEVER a vote to take for granted the entire time he was in the Senate.

The thing that surprises me about him considering running as an independent is that in his Virginia race, he was HORRIBLE raising money and is not independently wealthy. Without a party, how does he raise money?

As to pulling voes from the Democrats, did you notice that he was the odd man out on nearly every issue. One foreign policy - he thinks the Iran deal was one of the worst things to happen?

The ONLY way I could see him getting many votes from anyone is if the Republicans nominate one of their "outsiders" who proceeds to implode. For republicans, he would then be better than HRC, Sanders, Biden ...

[StevieM]

12. He was Reagan's Secretary of the Navy, not Secretary of State.

There are low information voters who might simply know that he is a Democrat and want an alternative to the Democratic nominee.

And I think the GOP would make sure that he was well-funded.

[karynnj]

15. OOPs - that was what I meant to write, but goofed

[countingbluecars]

11. The Democrats can't afford

to lose any votes in Virginia. This would not be good.

[book_worm]

13. If the GOP nominates somebody like Trump he would hurt the GOP more than Dems

because there would be some more moderate/independent republicans who couldn't stomach voting for Trump and couldn't bring themselves to vote for the democratic nominee.

[zazen]

14. totally agreed! n/t

[NYCButterfinger]

16. Democrats have to win working class voters.

Win working class voters in Staten Island, Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, Middle Village, Queens . Working class voters who see no part of the party.

[winstars]

17. we can only lose votes to this guy if he is on the actual ballot... lets see how that goes for him

[grntuscarora]

18. Anecdotal evidence isn't worth much, I know,

but the republicans in my extended family are desperate for a sane alternative to the clown car of candidates they've so far been offered.

I would never vote for him, but I kind of liked him in the debate. He seemed to be sane and well-intentioned, and I think some of my conservative family would go for him as an independent.

[Generic Brad]

19. An Independent Jim Webb would get negligible votes

Not enough to make a difference on either side of the aisle. He's a good man, but not charismatic enough to garner votes.

[UTUSN]

20. Go, WEBB, *GO*!1 He won't take Dem votes. In fact, no votes from anybody!1 n/t

[brooklynite]

21. All 10 of them?

Which Democrats are going to switch to a candidate polling 1--2%?

[pinboy3niner]

22. He's doing a press conference at 1pm tomorrow (Tuesday)

Mr. Webb will hold a 1 p.m. news conference on Tuesday at the National Press Club in Washington to “discuss his candidacy, the campaign and his views of the political parties in the current election cycle.”

http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/10/19/jim-webb-a-blip-in-the-polls-warns-of-an-independent-run/?_r=0

[0rganism]

23. i for one am not too eager to know exactly what Jim Webb is thinking

[rug]

24. He's banking on the Pork Chop Hill vote.