Jim Webb sidesteps into the Democratic presidential race

Former one-term U.S. Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia made a low-key entry into the Democratic presidential race today with an announcement on his campaign website.

Acknowledging his underdog status, Webb said America nevertheless needed an alternative to the candidates already stumping for votes.

“I understand the odds, particularly in today’s political climate, where fair debate is so often drowned out by huge sums of money,” Webb wrote. “I know that more than one candidate in this process intends to raise at least a billion dollars.”

He added that the nation “needs a fresh approach to solving the problems that confront us and too often unnecessarily divide us. We need to shake the hold of these shadow elites on our political process.”

Although former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is the frontrunner in the Democratic primary race, by a wide margin, Webb could make things uncomfortable for her in public debates. Webb was a staunch opponent of the war in Iraq, which played a key role in his surprise Senate win over George Allen, the Republican incumbent in 2006. He claims U.S. foreign policy has been “adrift” since the end of the Cold War, a not-so-indirect criticism of Clinton’s work at the State Department.

Webb, a decorated Vietnam veteran and former Navy secretary, wants to reset America’s foreign policy to avoid international entanglements. The rest of his campaign message includes help for working-class Americans, a common theme among all contenders, and tackling campaign finance reform.

In addition to Clinton, Webb will face U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, and former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee in next year’s Democratic primaries.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.