Lincoln Chafee makes surprise presidential campaign plans

Former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee announced Wednesday he will challenge frontrunner Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Unlike other White House hopefuls, Chafee didn’t give any notice of his intentions, surprising supporters and media alike with Wednesday’s event at George Mason University. Although Clinton already has two underdog challengers—Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley—Chafee is being described as the longest of the long shots.

In his announcement speech, the former governor said he would switch the United States to the metric system, take an “open-minded approach” to drug trafficking, and consider negotiations with Islamic State militants trying to establish a caliphate in parts of Syria and Iraq. He described himself as staunchly anti-war.

“We must deliberately and carefully extricate ourselves from expensive wars,” Chafee told a half-full auditorium. “We need to be very smart in these volatile times overseas.”

Chafee also proposed ending capital punishment, allowing National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden to come home without facing espionage charges, and making up with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. His priority would be to end all wars.

“Let’s wage peace in this new American century,” Chafee said.

Before becoming Rhode Island’s governor, Chaffee served in the Senate as a Republican. He was the only GOP member to oppose invading Iraq in 2002. That’s the main difference between him and his well-known opponent, Chafee told potential supporters. Then a senator from, New York, Clinton voted to support the war.

Chafee also took a swipe at Clinton, albeit tangentially, saying a U.S. president should not have financial and email scandals in his or her background.

“We just can't have that,” he said. “We need to just get back the respect and admiration of the international community.”

Chafee left the Republican Party and became an independent in 2007. He became a Democrat shortly after being elected governor in 2013, but decided against running for reelection. He supported President Barack Obama in both of his campaigns.

With Clinton the acknowledged Democratic nominee even before the primaries begin, Chafee’s supporters are having a hard time deciphering his rationale for jumping into the race.

“He’s not done anything other than posture on some issues,” said Mike Trainor, a former Chafee aide. “The question he’s going to have to answer is what credible indications can he give that he is at all ready to run a national campaign.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.