Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore says he has not ruled out a run for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination after a lot of goading from his constituents.
"I appreciate people who are suggesting that," Gilmore, now president of the Free Congress Foundation, said Wednesday on "The Steve Malzberg Show" on
Newsmax TV.
"It is a very nice compliment to me, and I sure will look at that prospect."
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Among the issues Gilmore says Washington must focus on are the economy and a stronger foreign policy.
"I have, for years, been talking . . . about the necessity of building up and growing this economy. We're not going to be able to face the challenges ahead so long as we have a weak economy," he said.
"[An economy] that doesn't give graduates an opportunity to work, minority people, particularly in the youthful community, a chance to work, women not fully engaged in the economy.
"The people of the United States know that things aren't great. They have their children that are living in their cellars and trying to find part-time employment. They have people on part-time employment that are now counting as employed who want full-time jobs."
In addition, the United States is facing an international crisis, which includes terrorism and the global economy.
"It's very serious. The Russians, the Iranians, are a challenge. The Russians are maybe the greatest challenge," he said.
"We have a lot of issues ahead of us right now. That has to be confronted and faced, and we are going to need somebody that has some foreign-policy experience in the 2016 field."
Asked by host Steve Malzberg whether he would be as qualified for the presidency as former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush or former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who are both considering a run, Gilmore said:
"I certainly would never address anybody else that's trying to run for president. That would not be an appropriate thing to do at this point. We don't have anybody in the race officially at this point."
Gilmore said it "remains to be seen" whether the new Republican Congress can successfully challenge the agenda of the Obama administration.
"The president is relentlessly trying to move the country to the left, and that's not the appropriate way to go. It doesn't work economically, our national security is not good," he said.
"The president has been giving a message of withdrawal and pull-back for years now, and we're now seeing the consequences of that worldwide, and the national security of the United States is in danger because of that policy.
"We have Republicans that have a very similar points of view, that if they're nominated and elected would not be helpful to this country. So, there are still challenges that face us that we have to deal with."