It was pretty obvious at last week’s debate that former Virginia senator Jim Webb was a different kind of Democrat than everyone else on stage. Today, he acknowledged that when he announced that he is dropping out of the presidential primary race.

Webb, a former U.S. senator from Virginia, said the party’s leadership is too invested in appeasing special interest groups and has drifted left over the years. He said the party’s “hierarchy is not comfortable with many of the policies that I have laid forth, and frankly I am not that comfortable with many of theirs.”

“For this reason, I am withdrawing from any consideration of being the Democratic Party’s nominee for the presidency,” Webb said.

However….

"This does not reduce in any way my concerns about the challenges facing our country, my belief that I can provide the best leadership…"

— Jim Webb (@JimWebbUSA) October 20, 2015

How I remain as a voice will depend on what kind of support I am shown in the coming days & weeks as I meet with people from all sides…"

— Jim Webb (@JimWebbUSA) October 20, 2015

Webb’s consideration of an independent run was rumored yesterday, and it looks like he is keeping all of his options open, and seeing if either the support or the finances will allow him to stay in the race.

Frankly, the Democrats left Jim Webb a long time ago. I’m surprised it took him the debate to realize that.