This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/may/30/martin-omalley-campaign-trail-democratic-presidential-nomination

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Martin O'Malley intends to win even if the odds are stacked against him Martin O'Malley intends to win even if the odds are stacked against him
(about 2 hours later)
Martin O’Malley is staffing up and stepping out.Martin O’Malley is staffing up and stepping out.
The former Maryland governor who moonlights as an Irish rock singer was scheduled to announce his entry in the Democratic presidential race on Saturday morning, in the city he ran as a widely admired mayor for seven years.The former Maryland governor who moonlights as an Irish rock singer was scheduled to announce his entry in the Democratic presidential race on Saturday morning, in the city he ran as a widely admired mayor for seven years.
As he prepared to take the stage on Federal Hill in Baltimore, O’Malley could boast a string of smashing electoral victories – he was re-elected as governor by 14 points – and a record of progressive accomplishments, including signing same-sex marriage into law and banning the death penalty.As he prepared to take the stage on Federal Hill in Baltimore, O’Malley could boast a string of smashing electoral victories – he was re-elected as governor by 14 points – and a record of progressive accomplishments, including signing same-sex marriage into law and banning the death penalty.
Even before his announcement, O’Malley was laying groundwork beyond Baltimore. Unlike Bernie Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont who is a rival for the Democratic nomination, O’Malley has hired dozens of staffers in the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire and repeatedly visited both early primary states. He also enjoys the devoted support of a so-called superPAC, an outside group with the ability to spend limitless money on his behalf. Even before his announcement, O’Malley was laying groundwork beyond Baltimore. Unlike Bernie Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont who is a rival for the Democratic nomination, O’Malley has hired dozens of staffers in the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire and repeatedly visited both early voting states. He also enjoys the devoted support of a so-called superPAC, an outside group with the ability to spend limitless money on his behalf.
In any other presidential nomination cycle, O’Malley would look like a viable contender for the Democratic nomination. At 52, he is a young governor with impeccable liberal credentials and what White House spokesman Josh Earnest on Friday called “a compelling case to make”.In any other presidential nomination cycle, O’Malley would look like a viable contender for the Democratic nomination. At 52, he is a young governor with impeccable liberal credentials and what White House spokesman Josh Earnest on Friday called “a compelling case to make”.
This year, not so much. A Quinnipiac poll released on Thursday gave O’Malley 1% support among Democratic voters nationally. Former secretary of state, New York senator and first lady Hillary Clinton received 57%. The margin of error was 2.4%. The poll was not an outlier.This year, not so much. A Quinnipiac poll released on Thursday gave O’Malley 1% support among Democratic voters nationally. Former secretary of state, New York senator and first lady Hillary Clinton received 57%. The margin of error was 2.4%. The poll was not an outlier.
If the 2016 nomination is Clinton’s to lose, however, the lure of the White House is strong enough to pull into the rave politicians who are used to winning – and Martin O’Malley is one. If the 2016 nomination is Clinton’s to lose, however, the lure of the White House is strong enough to pull into the race politicians who are used to winning – and Martin O’Malley is one.
“He’s very smart. He’s very hard working. And he knows how to campaign,” said Donald F Norris, director of the school of public policy at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. “And those three characteristics can overcome a lot of deficits.”“He’s very smart. He’s very hard working. And he knows how to campaign,” said Donald F Norris, director of the school of public policy at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. “And those three characteristics can overcome a lot of deficits.”
While O’Malley’s motivations for mounting what looks to many observers like a quixotic campaign are opaque, political analysts and experts venture a range of explanations for his jumping in. The first is that he intends to win.While O’Malley’s motivations for mounting what looks to many observers like a quixotic campaign are opaque, political analysts and experts venture a range of explanations for his jumping in. The first is that he intends to win.
“The difference between him and Sanders is that Sanders is running, I think, without really the illusion that he’s going to be president,” said David Karol, a professor of government and politics at the University of Maryland and co-author of the book The Party Decides.“The difference between him and Sanders is that Sanders is running, I think, without really the illusion that he’s going to be president,” said David Karol, a professor of government and politics at the University of Maryland and co-author of the book The Party Decides.
O’Malley wants to be president, and believes that it’s not beyond the realm of possibilityO’Malley wants to be president, and believes that it’s not beyond the realm of possibility
“I actually don’t think O’Malley is in that category. O’Malley wants to be president, and believes that it’s not beyond the realm of possibility.”“I actually don’t think O’Malley is in that category. O’Malley wants to be president, and believes that it’s not beyond the realm of possibility.”
Norris said O’Malley had shown himself to be deeply serious about public service.Norris said O’Malley had shown himself to be deeply serious about public service.
“I think he thinks that there is a shot,” Norris said. “What that shot is, he’s got to understand, is a very, very long shot, and depends, really, on Hillary Clinton making mistakes, and making enough mistakes or a big enough mistake that it derails her.”“I think he thinks that there is a shot,” Norris said. “What that shot is, he’s got to understand, is a very, very long shot, and depends, really, on Hillary Clinton making mistakes, and making enough mistakes or a big enough mistake that it derails her.”
O’Malley may be able to pick off some Democratic primary voters from Clinton owing not to any stumbles on her part, but to the strength of his record as a progressive mayor and governor.O’Malley may be able to pick off some Democratic primary voters from Clinton owing not to any stumbles on her part, but to the strength of his record as a progressive mayor and governor.
Maryland public schools were rated first in the nation four years in a row during his governorship, which lasted from 2007 to 2015, and employment climbed by almost 5%. He signed same-sex marriage into law and signed legislation banning the death penalty. During his time as mayor of Baltimore, total incidents of crime as measured by the FBI fell by 43% – the steepest drop for any big city in the country.Maryland public schools were rated first in the nation four years in a row during his governorship, which lasted from 2007 to 2015, and employment climbed by almost 5%. He signed same-sex marriage into law and signed legislation banning the death penalty. During his time as mayor of Baltimore, total incidents of crime as measured by the FBI fell by 43% – the steepest drop for any big city in the country.
On the flip side, detractors have accused O’Malley of manipulating Baltimore’s crime data to produce the dramatic result, after the manner of the fictional mayor in the television series The Wire, Tommy Carcetti, who is said to have been modeled partly on O’Malley. Some Baltimore residents have blamed O’Malley’s support of “zero-tolerance” policing as mayor for contributing to the tensions that exploded following the killing of Freddie Gray in April.On the flip side, detractors have accused O’Malley of manipulating Baltimore’s crime data to produce the dramatic result, after the manner of the fictional mayor in the television series The Wire, Tommy Carcetti, who is said to have been modeled partly on O’Malley. Some Baltimore residents have blamed O’Malley’s support of “zero-tolerance” policing as mayor for contributing to the tensions that exploded following the killing of Freddie Gray in April.
Furthermore, in 2014 his chosen successor as governor lost in a shocking upset to Republican Larry Hogan, as O’Malley was heavily criticized for raising taxes repeatedly as governor.Furthermore, in 2014 his chosen successor as governor lost in a shocking upset to Republican Larry Hogan, as O’Malley was heavily criticized for raising taxes repeatedly as governor.
But O’Malley has always faced criticism head on. In the aftermath of the riots and disturbances in Baltimore after Freddie Gray’s death, he cut short an overseas trip and quickly returned to the city, where he joined prayer circles and walked the streets in a show of public support. It was typical of O’Malley to be mingling with people, Norris said, as opposed to standing behind a lectern at a press conference.But O’Malley has always faced criticism head on. In the aftermath of the riots and disturbances in Baltimore after Freddie Gray’s death, he cut short an overseas trip and quickly returned to the city, where he joined prayer circles and walked the streets in a show of public support. It was typical of O’Malley to be mingling with people, Norris said, as opposed to standing behind a lectern at a press conference.
“He will not shy away from interviews with the press, or one-on-one meetings with voters in the town halls,” said Norris. “He’s going to be out there pressing the flesh, which is something that Clinton probably won’t do. They’re two just entirely different personalities.”“He will not shy away from interviews with the press, or one-on-one meetings with voters in the town halls,” said Norris. “He’s going to be out there pressing the flesh, which is something that Clinton probably won’t do. They’re two just entirely different personalities.”
The O’Malley-Clinton contrast raises another possibility for his presidential run: might he be interested in joining the Democratic presidential ticket as a vice-presidential candidate or angling for a cabinet position in a Clinton administration?The O’Malley-Clinton contrast raises another possibility for his presidential run: might he be interested in joining the Democratic presidential ticket as a vice-presidential candidate or angling for a cabinet position in a Clinton administration?
So far, O’Malley has been reluctant to criticize Clinton directly. This may, however, be a function of Clinton’s overwhelming popularity among registered Democrats rather than the former Maryland governor’s hesitancy to throw a punch.So far, O’Malley has been reluctant to criticize Clinton directly. This may, however, be a function of Clinton’s overwhelming popularity among registered Democrats rather than the former Maryland governor’s hesitancy to throw a punch.
The closest O’Malley has come to directly challenging the former secretary of state was in an interview last month with the Guardian, when asked about Clinton’s suddenly vocal support for same-sex marriage.The closest O’Malley has come to directly challenging the former secretary of state was in an interview last month with the Guardian, when asked about Clinton’s suddenly vocal support for same-sex marriage.
“I’m glad Secretary Clinton’s come around to the right positions on these issues,” O’Malley said. “I believe that we are best as a party when we lead with our principles and not according to the polls.”“I’m glad Secretary Clinton’s come around to the right positions on these issues,” O’Malley said. “I believe that we are best as a party when we lead with our principles and not according to the polls.”
Karol said O’Malley did not appear to be unrolling a campaign for the vice-presidency.Karol said O’Malley did not appear to be unrolling a campaign for the vice-presidency.
“I certainly don’t think that by running against Clinton, he necessarily advances his chances of getting the vice-presidential nomination or getting a position in her administration,” Karol said. “It’s not clear that he makes sense for her, on the ticket.”“I certainly don’t think that by running against Clinton, he necessarily advances his chances of getting the vice-presidential nomination or getting a position in her administration,” Karol said. “It’s not clear that he makes sense for her, on the ticket.”
Karol likewise ruled out a shot at 2020, should Clinton lose in the 2016 general election, as an ulterior motive for O’Malley’s campaign. “If he just loses pretty badly to her, which is what we have to expect, I don’t see how that is really going to advance his prospects,” Karol said.Karol likewise ruled out a shot at 2020, should Clinton lose in the 2016 general election, as an ulterior motive for O’Malley’s campaign. “If he just loses pretty badly to her, which is what we have to expect, I don’t see how that is really going to advance his prospects,” Karol said.
Both Karol and Norris pointed out that O’Malley had passed up a chance to run for a US Senate seat opening up in Maryland with the retirement next year of long-time Senator Barbara Mikulski.Both Karol and Norris pointed out that O’Malley had passed up a chance to run for a US Senate seat opening up in Maryland with the retirement next year of long-time Senator Barbara Mikulski.
“If he had decided he wanted to run for Senate, he would have chased everybody out, with possibly one exception, and that office would have been his,” Norris said. “That’s how serious he is about the presidency.“If he had decided he wanted to run for Senate, he would have chased everybody out, with possibly one exception, and that office would have been his,” Norris said. “That’s how serious he is about the presidency.
“Hillary’s got to be considered the odds-on favorite. But if she stumbles, O’Malley’s there.”“Hillary’s got to be considered the odds-on favorite. But if she stumbles, O’Malley’s there.”