The progressive executive: How Martin O’Malley plans to run for president

[brooklynite]

Salon:

Martin O’Malley has never been one to shirk a tough fight. In 1999, the ambitious Baltimore city councilman launched a mayoral bid confronting poll numbers that suggested the city’s top job was a long shot. But the 36-year-old Irish Catholic worked assiduously to court support in the majority African American city, proceeding to emerge victorious with 53 percent of the vote in a seven-person Democratic primary field, before winning the general election with 90 percent support.

That come-from-behind victory is no doubt on O’Malley’s mind as he contemplates entering the race for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination — a contest currently dominated by Hillary Clinton. Unlike Clinton, biding her time before taking the plunge on a second White House bid, O’Malley, who just completed two terms as Maryland governor, is moving aggressively to woo Democratic primary voters. In the past week, his team has announced further trips to Iowa and New Hampshire, the two states that kick off the primary season, after O’Malley spent much of the past two years campaigning for Democratic candidates in the states.

Word of O’Malley’s upcoming forays into the Hawkeye and Granite States comes as he has staked out bold positions on issues that resonate with the Democratic base. On Monday, O’Malley published an op-ed in the New York Times calling the Obama administration’s decision to allow oil drilling off the East Coast a “big mistake“; the former governor has also come out forcefully against construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, on which Clinton has repeatedly refused to take a position. Similarly, O’Malley has outflanked Clinton on torture. In December, after the Senate Intelligence Committee released its report on the CIA’s use of torture in its post-9/11 detention and interrogation program, O’Malley called for torturers to be criminally prosecuted; Clinton, while denouncing torture, opposes criminal accountability.

While those stances may appeal to progressive voters unsold on a Clinton candidacy, it’s unlikely that O’Malley will run as an anti-Clinton. He endorsed Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign, and many observers suspect that he wants to preserve the option of serving as her vice president, should he seek the top job and come up short.

O'Malley launched his campaign back at the 2012 Convention. He's not a bad speaker, but I don't see how he explains the Democratic loss in MD last year.

[Agnosticsherbet]

1. Another candidate to watch. Good.

I look forward to learning more about him.

[monmouth4]

2. Spoke with some Democratic Marylanders about him a few weeks back and their main complaint was

he did little or nothing for Seniors. They told me they were democrats and plugged into politics so I take them at their word...

[Agnosticsherbet]

6. I don't know enough about him yet.

I am just starting the process of research.

But that would be a strike against him.

[2banon]

3. odd..

wonder what the point of this article was? After all, the author writes off any chance of O'Malley actually contesting HRC.

While those stances may appeal to progressive voters unsold on a Clinton candidacy, it’s unlikely that O’Malley will run as an anti-Clinton. He endorsed Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign, and many observers suspect that he wants to preserve the option of serving as her vice president, should he seek the top job and come up short.

Unless, of course the writer is alluding (between the lines) that the base ought to be prepared for a bait 'n switch wrt to O'Malley -- possibly this is sort of tossing out a carrot to the "base' to rally around as an alternative to Sanders or Warren. HRC becomes the nom, maybe O'Malley is picked up as a running mate, or more likely is used as a way to cash in on the dp base for votes and funding.


ack!

[Agnosticsherbet]

7. Eugene Roginson said the same. O'Malley is keeping optios open for the VP slot.

Link to DU thread on Robinson's article.

[Peacetrain]

4. I got to meet Martin O'Malley this last summer

when he was in Iowa.. and I have to tell you, I was mighty impressed.. I asked him outright if he was considering a run, and he said he was thinking about it... I know a lot of people in Iowa want him to step into the primaries..

[geek tragedy]

5. I welcome his voice and his ideas. nt

[rogerashton]

8. Nothing wrong with keeping options open.

Running somewhat to Hillary's left in the primaries could make him a natural VEEP candidate. Hillary is at an age when health could put her out of the race without warning. (Ask me how I know!) Then he would be the one to step forward first. And, then again, he MIGHT win. BO did.

[wyldwolf]

9. Definitely not the anti-Hillary (links)

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/03/for-2016-take-martin-o-malley-seriously.html
http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci9678.html?kaid=111&subid=137&contentid=254484
http://www.governor.maryland.gov/speeches/070730-DLC.html
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2000-07-15/news/0007150166_1_omalley-townsend-dlc

http://www.ontheissues.org/Martin_O%60Malley.htm

[HappyMe]

10. The more, the merrier.

[hootinholler]

11. I don't think O'Malley has to explain anything about the last election

Brown ran a lackluster campaign, and Hogan was funded by the Koch Bros.

Personally, I don't understand the results, but we will have paper ballots in Md. for 2016!

[Proud Public Servant]

12. O'Malley's running for veep

And while I'd bet cash money Hillary picks a middle-aged white guy, Marty just doesn't bring enough to the table.