Webb tests Iowa 2016 Democratic political waters

DES MOINES - Former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb made a pitch to Iowans on Monday in hopes of generating the support and money he needs to build a viable challenge for the Democratic Party's 2016 presidential nomination.

Webb, 69, met with groups of veterans and women during his two-day swing before wrapping up with closed-door sessions with key legislative Democrats from the House and Senate, stressing he would be a candidate who would bring 'fresh approaches” to the 2016 race.

Webb was non-commital with reporters about a timeline on deciding whether to formally enter the race after launching an exploratory committee, saying only that he would 'make a decision in good time” as part of a systematic approach in which trips to states such as Iowa are 'very valuable.”

'We're proceeding forward with the question of whether we can get the financial support and the encouragement from these meetings that we're having that would signal that we could actually conduct a viable campaign,” said Webb, who also served stints as U.S. secretary of the navy, assistant defense secretary and journalist during his career that includes serving in the U.S. Senate from 2007 to 2013.

'It's been very encouraging,” he added, 'the times that I've come here and listened to people that there is a receptivity to what we're trying to say. This country really is ready for fresh approaches to resolving the issues of the state of our economy, economic fairness, social justice and the articulation of our foreign policy and our national security policy.”

Webb addressed foreign policy concerns, such as advocating for congressional action on fast-track trade, Trans-Pacific Partnership and Iranian nuclear treaties after a full vetting of the details of those proposed agreements.

'Any binding agreement requires the expressed consent of the Congress,” he said.State senators who met with Webb on Monday said he was well received, but they were uncertain he can muster the campaign that would be needed to challenge front-running former U.S. Secretary of State, senator and first lady Hillary Clinton.

'Hillary Clinton is a rock star,” said Sen. Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, who has not endorsed a 2016 candidate. 'She is prepared on a full range of issues to be president from day one. That was true in 2008, and it's even more true today.”

Senate President Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, who is backing Clinton, said Webb had a good message, especially about strengthening the commitment to veterans, the G.I. bill and foreign policy. She said his game plan is to do well in early states like Iowa and New Hampshire to generate the buzz, money and momentum he would need to compete.

'He's going to have some work to do,” Jochum said, 'but he's well aware of that.”

Sen. Tom Courtney, D-Burlington, said Webb came across as 'a pretty conservative Democrat,” but the fact that his Statehouse visit generally went unnoticed in contrast to the circus atmosphere that accompanied Clinton's Capitol stop last week shows the challenge the former Virginia senator faces heading into next year's precinct caucuses.

'I just don't see him raising the money that it takes. That's my thing. I just don't see him raising the money,” Courtney said.

'All in all, in another time and another place, he'd be a candidate you'd really look to, but with the kind of money that Hillary is going to have to campaign, I just think it's hard for these second- and third-tier candidates to get very far,” he added. 'Every four years some really good people get lost in the scuffle that might be good presidents, but they'll never get anywhere because they get over-shadowed by the strong contenders.”