Jim Webb Jumps In

This is a surprise. Democrat Jim Webb announced last November that he had formed an exploratory committee to ponder running for president but he more or less disappeared after that. I hadn't seen anything indicating that he was planning to officially declare himself a candidate today, but that's what he did. There's more intrigue, drama and angst on the Republican side but I am maintaining a list of Democratic candidates, which I've now updated.

Declared Democratic Candidates

1. Hillary Clinton (April 12)
2. Bernie Sanders (May 26) 
3. Martin O'Malley (May 30) 
4. Lincoln Chafee (June 3)
5. Jim Webb (July 2)  

Days until Election Day: 494

And They're Off!

The 2016 presidential race is officially underway! The first candidate in the race has announced an exploratory committee, the devil's-in-the-details first step to actually running for president. Surprisingly, it's a Democrat - Jim Webb, Vietnam-era Marine Corp veteran, former Virginia senator and Secretary of the Navy under President Reagan. Realistically, he's a long shot, even if Hillary opts not to run and an exploratory committee is slightly less official than actually saying "I declare my candidacy..." but still, it's a traditional first step and sure to be the first of many. Here's how cnn is covering it, and here's a link to Webb's on-line announcement.

Days until election day: 718