Let's talk about O'Malley

[Joe the Revelator]

I think, all things considered, O'Malley would be my top choice for the nomination. He has an engaging story, his really good looking,he has progressive cred, he's young, he's exciting, and I agree with his positions on most issues.

I am pretty shocked at the lack of traction he is getting nationally, and more importantly in Iowa where he seems to be spending a lot of time. With it becoming more and more clear that Hillary is falling out of favor with the party as the email issues and her lack of enthusiasm with the campaign trail, why isn't O'Malley getting more support? Why are people like Biden and Gore testing the waters?

In short, I am confused about the reaction to O'Malley. He seems to be doing everything right, there just doesn't seem to be any air for him. Any thoughts?

[MH1]

1. I think the Biden rumors hurt O'Malley most.

Partly due to overlap in name recognition. The people most likely to know of and like MOM would be around the mid-Atlantic states. That's the same area that know and like Joe Biden (in addition to the relatively low percentage of Americans who have any idea who the US Vice-President is).

Also, although I think he's more progressive than Hillary on many fronts, Martin doesn't have the radical appeal that Bernie does. He doesn't have the conserva-dem appeal that Webb does. He's more of the not-too-radical but "not Hillary" candidate, for people who don't know him really well. Sanders isn't a huge competitor in that space. People who haven't researched the candidates will react emotionally and either like Hillary or not. If the answer is "not" they are going for the best known alternative - Sanders - unless they think he's too radical, too old, or uneletable. Then they move to the next option. But right now "next option" could be O'Malley, Biden, or Gore, depending on if you think all 3 are running.

I like O'Malley a lot. If the primary were held today, he's probably the one I'd vote for. But I think the reality of Dem politics is not helpful to him right now. Maybe it gets better, maybe it doesn't. But I'd like to get his name out there as much as possible, because he's young enough to be a candidate in the future.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

2. MOM is very good.

He got in too late, or I might well have backed him. I sent him some money before he declared. Bernie has just taken so much oxygen.

As a speaker, he has a common problem: he reads/delivers a canned speech. In contrast Bernie just gets up there with a sheaf of yellow sheet notes and lets it rip.

Having said all that, he might benefit from a continued decline of HRC backers. If he gets the nomination I will campaign for him enthusiastically, but try to get him to adopt Bernie's march on Washington idea after the election.

[Joe the Revelator]

5. This was a really good answer. Thank you. NT

[Andy823]

3. My opinion

The media wants this to be a two candidate race, Bernie and Hillary, and that's it! They don't really want anyone else. My personal opinion is that O'Malley has come out and said some things that Wall street for one don't like. He has talked about prosecuting those who break the laws in the future, and they don't want him in this race. The right wing also sees him as someone that they don't want to see running, because of a lot of the things you posted about him. The right, and the media they own, will do their best to keep this race between Clinton, who they think brings out their voters, and Bernie the socialist who they also think will bring out their voters. No matter who wins of those two, they think they stand a better chance than with someone who is younger, has plans that will actually work to fix the things we still need to be fixed because the republicans in congress have been doing their best to keep this country from advancing since Obama was elected.

As for Biden and Gore testing the waters, I read this morning that Gore is NOT going to run, and I still don't think Biden will either. These rumors are just that, rumors.

I also think that we need to get the debates going NOW, and waiting only helps Hillary, and hurts those like O'Malley who need to get their message out and get people to hear their agenda for fixing things. I still think that once more voters hear him, listen to his plans and see just what he has done in the past, they will find that there is "another" candidate out there besides the ones the Media keep pushing day after day.

[Agschmid]

4. Kick.

[libdem4life]

6. I'd say it's just not his time. There's not much I don't like, but he lacks,

for me...as does Hillary...the political charisma, the passion... that for which there is no explaining. He may have it later when a more typical election comes around. But (Hillary aside for the moment) can anyone see Jeb Bush beating out Bernie Sanders? Bernie connects, and he's found his moment, I believe.

We know the 99% are getting screwed and have for some time. But the politicians are in the 1%...so they placate and promise and plead for our votes, then become who they were before they had to please a few million people. They then please, as Molly Ivins used to say, "Those who brung them".

Bernie's not in the 1%...in fact I've read him be ridiculed that he just didn't know how to handle money...only worth $300,000.

But I think O'Malley has what it takes...just not this cycle.

[FSogol]

7. O'Malley is running a different type of campaign than the others.

He does much more grassroots work as opposed to HRC's by-the-book campaign and Sanders' word-of-mouth campaign. He started it during the midterms in Iowa in 2014 and likened it to planting seeds. It will take longer to pay off. O'Malley's campaign will take off after the first few primaries. I feel he will do well (1st or 2nd place finishes) which will be a surprise for many, especially the pundit class. He'll also get a big boost when a national debate finally happens.

Additionally, other than political junkies, no one is paying any attention to the campaign. It is summer and the kids go back to school again. After Labor Day, attention will go to the campaign and summer flings will be forgotten. You probably can't point to many campaigns (without an incumbent running) where the people leading 1-1/2 years prior to the election where still leading on election night or even on the ballot.

PS. Gore's spokesperson denied any rumors that he is considering a run and I think Biden would only enter the race with a total HRC collapse.

PPS. The notion that he got in too late is ridiculous, imo. Many want to lengthen the campaign season, but it is already too long. O'Malley's timing is/was not a problem.

[elleng]

8. No msm coverage,

and it's 'boring' to watch candidates hanging around IOWA and NH!

“The history of our presidential primary shows us that usually there is an inevitable

(early) front-runner, but only up until the very first contest. And then, especially in the Democratic Party, usually a candidate emerges who represents the voice of a new generation of Americans." O'Malley told the Detroit News.

Michigan Radio quoted an even pithier O'Malley remark. The former Governor said, "A person can become very, very famous in our country overnight, once the people of Iowa make their determination." . .

As for O'Malley, he told the Detroit News what he'd do next. "I’m virtually unknown and I’m following that path of other unknowns — Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and others who, nonetheless, climbed into a van and went town to town to town across Iowa. I’ve been in 25 counties of the 99 so far in Iowa and I intend to get to the others and then go back around for a second round."

http://www.examiner.com/article/martin-o-malley-stops-ann-arbor-on-way-to-iowa

[elleng]

9. Thanks.

[Armstead]

10. On a shallow level, a lack of apparent distinctiveness

There;s Hillary, who everyone knows and stirs up reaction one way or another pretty strongly. She is a distinct and well-known personality. And as a woman, there us a historical significance in her candidacy.

There's Bernie, who doesn't look or act like the usual blow-dry candidate, has a distinct message, a whole boatload of passion and has touched a chord for many people. He's saying things many people have wanted to hear xpressed for a long time.

O'Malley looks and sounds like a cookie cutter politician. He doesn't have the fire in his belly like Sanders. He doesn't have the name recognition or resources of Clinton. So he doesn;t stand out.

Me? I like his ideas, but I don't know enough about him at this point to make an assessment of his sincerity or effectiveness. I also am a little leery of his past associations with business as usual Democratic "DLC Centrism."

All that could change. It's possible he could catch on, and gain momentum. But that's how I see your question at this point.

[elleng]

11. His DISTINCTIVENESS is that he has developed PLANS to address all relevant issues,

he sure as heck HAS fire in the belly, and EXPERIENCE, and it's about time for people to recognize it. We need DEBATES.

PLANS HERE:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1281

[Armstead]

12. I was responding to the question of why he has not taken off

Note my headline