Since all the potential Democratic contenders do indeed deserve our considered attention, here’s Dave Weigel at Bloomberg Politics reporting Martin O’Malley’s latest mini-tour:
CONCORD, N.H.—Martin O’Malley had just delivered a 10-minute talk to a few dozen Merrimack County Democrats, then spent 15 minutes walking from handshake to handshake, compliment to compliment. Voters born in Maryland, which O’Malley governed as a Democrat for eight years, wanted to tell him what a nice job he’d done. Educators wanted to bend his ear about the state’s soaring test scores. A man with a camera mounted on a pole introduced himself as the host of a public access show and asked if the Democrats would at least have some presidential debates. O’Malley pledged that they would…
… This was O’Malley’s first trip to a primary state since his Annapolis years ended. More importantly, the trip was coming after two weeks of brutal news for Hillary Clinton, who in the most recent poll of a potential New Hampshire Democratic primary led O’Malley by 69 points. She was at 69 percent; he was at 0 percent. The press corps, in person and absent, wanted to see if O’Malley would whack Hillary or if he’d stumble.
He did not stumble… O’Malley had demonstrated, with extreme subtlety, how he will challenge Clinton for the nomination. He would not swing at her over the scandals that compelled the media at any given moment. He would not (or could not) steal away her voters with soaring rhetoric.
No: O’Malley would meet as many Democrats as possible and remind them of how progressive he was. His Maryland, for example, led the nation in finding shelter for child migrants. His Maryland allowed non-citizens to obtain driver’s licenses. After learning that, the Democrats could ponder: Where was Hillary on those issues? And when they’d puzzled that question, they could ask about banks…
O’Malley, who told reporters in Concord that he’d make a presidential decision “by spring,” is getting ready to run as the sober, credible anti-Hillary. That message is designed for both varieties of New Hampshire Democrats that are not already on board for a Clinton restoration. The first group consists of progressive dreamers who, for now, are trying to draft Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren into the race. The second: Granite State pols who think their state is owed a real primary…
The next day, O’Malley flew to Kansas to speak to that state’s humbled, defeated Democratic Party. When reporters grabbed him afterwards, he had settled on his answer to the e-mail question. He pivoted right to driver’s licenses–”driver’s licenses for not-yet-naturalized citizens so they can drive safely to and from work and get insurance.” It was up to the press to figure out who might be against such a thing…
As someone who would really like to see a woman elected to the Oval Office, I will add that O’Malley seems to be keeping his options open in case Hillary Clinton should be looking for a vice presidential candidate by this time next year. There’s many worse ways to influence national politics, and O’Malley is young enough to wait for a 2020 or later slot at the top of the ticket. He’s certainly going to look Presidential (FWTW) next to whichever of the 27 dwarves eventually claws their way to the hood of the GOP clown car.
Baud
I like O’Malley. I have always thought a primary would be preferable even if Clinton is the nominee (even though the last few days have made me question whether Democrats can handle a primary).
Bobby B.
President? Next YEAR?? Punditboners ahoy!
Violet
I see I’m not the only one wondering about that. And it’s a concern. Candidates get plenty of practice during primary debates and visiting the various primary states. It’s important, especially if the Republicans have a large field. Plus we need a solid bench in case Hillary doesn’t run or can’t run for some reason.
Betty Cracker
O’Malley seems like a stand-up guy to me. I may fill in his oval if he’s on the FL primary ballot. Job #1 is defeating whatever freakish hairball the GOP horks up.
JPL
O’Malley seems like a stand up guy, but I really don’t know much about his governing. I know there is a repub now but that’s about it. I know Walker is anti-union and wants to cut 300 million from higher education but I really don’t know anything about O’Malley
I still would like to see Sheldon Whitehouse run cuz….
Poopyman
I don’t want a female candidate.
I don’t want a male candidate.
I just want a candidate who leans no more right than Barack Obama and can WIN!
Since I’ve been a resident of MD for the past 3+ decades I can tell you Marty’s the real deal, but he runs the danger of showing all the charisma of another Mike Dukakis. I hope he’s being coached on that.
Elizabelle
@Poopyman: He’s in a rock band, innit he?
Poopyman
One thing that’s been in O’Malley’s favor these years is the solid Dem state House and Senate. One real question is how will he do with an antagonistic (to put it mildly) opposition in Congress.
Poopyman
@Elizabelle: Meh. So was Huckabee.
ETA: I don’t know much about the band, but I’m not at all sure he was the front man.
(And it mighta been an Irish band.I should check.)
geg6
I have been pro-O’Malley for a while now, though I can’t say I’ll be disappointed if a woman, Hillary or whomever runs and wins. I’ve said many times here that I have a friend who worked for him in Baltimore during his mayoralty and who has sung his praise for two decades. I’ll hit the button for him for sure in the primary if given a chance.
Poopyman
@Elizabelle: A ha! O’Malley’s March.
ETA: Holy shit! He’s got Billy McComisky’s son Sean.
Baud
This thread so far makes me think that O’Malley isn’t generating a lot of excitement.
Davis X. Machina
@Poopyman: Here’s the Venn diagram for that last one:
O O
Corner Stone
@Baud:
You mean one relentless troll on BJ doesn’t make for a lot of delegates’ votes?
MomSense
@Baud:
I plan to make many weekend trips to NH to campaign for O’Malley.
Baud
@MomSense: Cool. It’s awesome how involved you are.
Turgidson
I’ll give O’Malley a fair hearing if he’s a candidate, but he wasn’t the best Obama surrogate in 2012. I still cringe at the memory of his visit to one of the Sunday shows during the general election. I think it was Meet the Republicans, but not sure.
HOST: Is the country better off than it was in January 2009?
O’Malley: No, but…..
I can’t remember what he said after that because I was too busy slamming my head against the nearest desk. And it wasn’t even refreshingly honest or true to say “no” to that question. It was just stupid. The country in fall 2012 was exponentially better off than when Obama took office, we were losing hundreds of thousands of jobs a month, the auto industry was teetering on the brink of collapse, etc. etc……and he still said no.
22over7
I remember O’Mally’s speech at the 2012 convention. He was monotone and boring. I’m sure he is a great guy, but he needs some serious fire to win.
Baud
@Turgidson:
Yeah, so far the number of candidates who have campaigned for my support is zero.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
That’s been my impression. On paper, he should be at least coming in second behind Warren in the blogosphere primary (which is a different animal than the Democratic primary). O’Malley’s performance as an Obama surrogate didn’t fill me with hope and enthusiasm.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Turgidson: Bob Schieffer, in a scolding, leading, grossly unprofessional tone, and O’Malley’s reaction was weak, flat-footed and unsupported by the facts.
Violet
@Turgidson: @22over7: Remember both those things and was equally underwhelmed. I was interested in seeing him because I’d heard good things. Not quite the impressive guy I was expecting.
Turgidson
@Violet:
The positive articles I’ve read about him suggest that he’d be a better president than candidate – solid manager, hands-on, technocratic, but solidly liberal.
But there’s that whole thing about having to win the election first. Maybe he’d be good on the stump, and even if not, most candidates improve dramatically with the practice. But that 2012 “better off” flub was so painful and clueless, and he was so bland at the convention, that it’s hard to get excited about him off the bat.
But as I said, I’ll give any/all the Democratic candidates other than maybe that blowhard Schweitzer a fair hearing. I’m fine with Hillary being the candidate, but even a half-hearted primary is better than none at all for Hillary and the party.
MazeDancer
@Poopyman:
Much encouraged to hear from a constituent that you found O’Malley a good guv.
But, really, as you note, he needs a personality transplant. He is so boring and lackluster he comes close to making people simply not like him. Have no idea how he got elected Governor.
The Other Bob
Let us not pretend H. Clinton is a strong candidate or campaigner. She’ll likely shoot herself i
n the foot with some dumb statement. Remember the “I am the white people’s candidate” or whatever crap comment she made?
On a primary someone likely O’Malley might just be in the right place to win when she stumbles.
Corner Stone
@22over7:
Honestly? Masturbation time. That is so hot.
Corner Stone
@The Other Bob:
No, sorry. Don’t remember that statement. Link, if you please?
Mike in NC
NOT ready for Hillary. Bank on much worse stuff coming out in the next several months than the Benghazi and emailgate bullshit.
O’Malley/Castro 2016.
Tree With Water
“O’Malley seems to be keeping his options open in case Hillary Clinton should be looking for a vice presidential candidate by this time next year”.
I bet someone, somewhere said much the same about Barack Obama circa March 2007.
Kropadope
@Corner Stone: Quote:
Note how she equates “hard-working Americans” with “white Americans.” Ugly. If I wanted to be real uncharitable, I could say she was calling her supporters stupid. But I don’t think that’s a fair assessment. Only Corner Stone is.
Mnemosyne (iPhone)
@MazeDancer:
We Democrats got very spoiled in 2008 because we had a candidate who was both a great campaigner and a technocrat who had an achievable agenda. Usually you have to pick one or the other, and we usually pick the technocrat while Republicans pick the great campaigner.
(Yes, W was a great campaigner. He was a shit president, but the man knew how to run a campaign, including kneecapping his closest competitors.)
lol
@Tree With Water:
Political memories are short.
opel801
Just stop.
Omnes Omnibus
@opel801: Hey, if the man comes into the campaign with a good message and can articulate it well, the more power to him.
opel801
@Omnes Omnibus:
Sure. Whatever.
Omnes Omnibus
@opel801: The fuck?
billb
The answer is obvious! Sen. Al from Minneeesota
opel801
@Omnes Omnibus:
“The fuck?” is my dad’s name. Most people call me opel801.
Omnes Omnibus
@opel801: Shouldn’t you be stalking Corner Stone?
socraticsilence
Really, really wish Warren would actually consider running but that doesn’t seem likely.
Omnes Omnibus
@socraticsilence: She isn’t going to run. She is in a place where she can do good work. Let’s all move on.
opel801
@Omnes Omnibus:
You continue to let Corner Stone happen.
Fuck you.
askew
@Poopyman:
Yep, he’s the front man and in other superficial talk, he is seriously hot for a politician. So, while he may not be the most charismatic politician at least he isn’t an unattractive bore like Kerry and Dukakis were.
On a more serious note, he is a solid progressive who has been more than willing to stick his neck out to do the right thing. He spent part of his last day commuting death sentences of the last prisoners on MD’s death row. He signed a bill repealing the death penalty, a gun control bill, a bill to give driver’s licenses to undocumented Americans. And he stood up to the Obama administration over the child refugee issue and put his money where his mouth was and used considerable leverage to get kids into foster homes in Maryland.
And anyone who thinks he is robotic or just another typical politician should listen to any of his speeches on the child refugee crisis or immigration. He speaks about American values and faith and ties both into progressive policies with a passion that I can’t remember another Dem doing. He got a lot of positive press for his pro-immigration policies in the Latino community.
His speech in SC about income equality, the economy and regulating Wall Street should be enough to make any Warren supporter happy.
Lastly, I want a woman president some day but I want her to be as extraordinary as our first AA president and Hillary isn’t even close to extraordinary.
askew
@MomSense:
I’ll probably end up in Iowa again campaigning. I did it in 2004 and couldn’t get to Iowa in 2008.
askew
@Tree With Water:
A lot of the same people declaring Hillary inevitable right now said exactly that. And the idea of a Hillary supporter calling any other politician boring is pretty funny. But, O’Malley doesn’t have the clap, clap, point, point thing down that Hilary used to drum up support from the audience in 2007-08.
Socraticsilence
@Omnes Omnibus:
I know it seems superficial but I worry about not having the candidate with charisma – the technocrat analysis was dead on, Hillary has a very John Kerry feel unfortunately though the female thing may overcome that.
Socraticsilence
In terms of peak turnout among an some voters.
AxelFoley
@Turgidson:
Yes, every time I see O’Malley and think about his possible candidacy, I think about that moment. I was like, “WTF?! You’re fucking A right this country is better off than it was four years ago! How can this guy fuck up THIS question?”
Keeps me thinking he’s not ready for primetime. He’s got a long way to go before I can wipe that from my memory.
AxelFoley
@22over7:
And this, too. He doesn’t do to well on TV.
Like I said, I don’t know if he’s primetime material yet.
AxelFoley
@Turgidson:
Damn, it’s like we’re long-lost siblings, because you’re pretty much summarizing my thoughts on O’Malley (and Hillary and Schweitzer with this post).