Former Senator Jim Webb of Virginia became the first semi-official presidential candidate for 2016 when he announced that he had formed an exploratory committee to determine whether he should run or not.

The committee allows Webb to fundraise, but is a step short of an official candidacy where he would be subject to FEC rules and regulations.

Politico:

“I have decided to launch an Exploratory Committee to examine whether I should run for President in 2016,” Webb said in a four-page letter on his website, Webb2016.

“I made this decision after reflecting on numerous political commentaries and listening to many knowledgeable people. I look forward to listening and talking with more people in the coming months as I decide whether or not to run.”

The Vietnam veteran added, “A strong majority of Americans agree that we are at a serious crossroads. In my view the solutions are not simply political, but those of leadership. I learned long ago on the battlefields of Vietnam that in a crisis, there is no substitute for clear-eyed leadership.”

Webb, who was Ronald Reagan’s Navy secretary and who has held centrist views on a number of issues, has been bolstered by progressive news outlet The Nation as a potential challenge from the left to Hillary Clinton, the dominant front-runner who hasn’t yet said if she will launch a second national campaign.

“With enough financial support to conduct a first-class campaign, I have no doubt that we can put these issues squarely before the American people and gain their support,” said Webb, acknowledging his underdog status against a likely Clinton fundraising juggernaut.

“The 2016 election is two years away, but serious campaigning will begin very soon. The first primaries are about a year away. Your early support will be crucial as I evaluate whether we might overcome what many commentators see as nearly impossible odds.”

Webb's biggest plus is that his name isn't Clinton. Beyond that, he's a  pretty run of the mill liberal that is perceived as being "moderate" by Virginia voters, although his record says otherwise.

But he's a thoughtful man and a tough campaigner. He may challenge Clinton in southern primaries - if he lasts that long. And  he may have in the back of his mind a run at the second spot.