Martin O'Malley warms up in Iowa for possible Democratic run in 2016

[DonViejo]

The visit had all the trappings of a full-fledged presidential campaign: a speech at the state Democratic convention, a pep talk to door-knocking volunteers, breakfast with labor leaders, appearances alongside the party's candidate for governor.

The only thing absent was a formal announcement by Martin O'Malley that he was, in fact, seeking the White House in 2016. But unlike a certain other much-chronicled, vastly better-known prospect, Maryland's two-term governor makes it no secret that, if not officially running for president, he is at least actively striding in that direction.

Fellow Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton says she hasn't decided whether to run, and neither, O'Malley says, has he. In the meantime, he is running one of the most vigorous noncampaign campaigns of any 2016 possibility in either party — raising money, stumping in early-voting states such as Iowa and New Hampshire, traveling abroad to boost his foreign policy credentials and honing a message that might be characterized, for brevity's sake, as compassionate competence.

"People want problem-solvers," O'Malley, a former Baltimore mayor, said in a late-night interview after the first of two well-received speeches to Democratic activists in Des Moines. "They want leaders that will bring people together to solve problems, not people that will take their ideology and try to beat round pegs into square holes."

more
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-martin-omalley-president-2016-20140713-story.html

[pinto]

1. I'm not real familiar with Gov. O'Malley but sounds like he'd be an interesting candidate.

Under O'Malley, Maryland has banished the death penalty, toughened gun laws, raised the minimum wage, and approved same-sex marriage, the use of medical marijuana and in-state tuition at public colleges and universities for people in the country illegally.

[Cal33]

4. Yes, O'Malley is definitely left of center, and he is also a doer, not merely an ideologue. I'd

pick him over Hillary any day, although I'd vote for her if there is no one to oppose her.

[Ruby the Liberal]

6. There will be plenty to oppose her

People run to get their ideas into the national debate (See Kucinich, Dennis; Paul, Ron; and Gravel, Mike).

Thats why I love the primaries so much! The general is buckle down time, but until we have a nominee, they all try to shore up the base.

[Cal33]

8. That would be nice. I would like

people like Sanders, Grayson, etc. I hope Warren would run too, but that's not likely.

[davidpdx]

2. Well he better ask Hillary, you know

because according to our resident "expert" she's been told the nomination is hers and Warren is only good for firing up the base apparently, so we've disqualified two potential candidates today on DU. Let's see what other ridiculous things people on DU come up with to push the inevitability meme.

#Clintoninevitabilityfail

[VanillaRhapsody]

3. what about those pushing the "enevitablity meme" that only seem to be the ones opposed to

HRC! I have only heard them even use that term....

The fact of the matter remains.....Hillary Clinton is the odds on favorite right now....THAT is what they are saying and you all know it!

[Ruby the Liberal]

5. Thanks for posting this!

I am early in the O'Malley camp. Landed there in 2012 when the rumors about 2016 were starting. I am a huge fan of the Governor, and unless he backs out, he is my candidate. Elizabeth Warren running *could* change my mind, but I really don't see that happening.

Appreciate you digging this up for some exposure!

[DFW]

7. O'Malley has long been in the "one to watch" category

He has been labeled "too much of a technocrat," and would still have some convincing to do.

He certainly wouldn't mind being sworn in as President. Neither would HRC.

The difference is, I don't think O'Malley would mind going through all the BS necessary to get there. I'm far from convinced Hillary wants to go through it all again, and I doubt O'Malley would be doing this if he didn't suspect exactly the same thing.

[greatlaurel]

9. Is HRC drawing all the right wing attacks away from future Democratic candidates?

I have wondered about that myself, as she is certainly drawing lots of right wing attacks and even exposing a few who claim to be liberals but are spouting right wing propaganda almost verbatim running Nixon era type attacks. I think a Hillary and Julian Castro ticket would be impossible to beat.

It appears she is enjoying herself and is not the least bit phased by these attacks on her. Does make me wonder if she is running. I hope she does run.

[DFW]

10. If I were in her position, that's exactly what I'd be doing, whether running or not

If she's not running, she doing her best for the party, acting as a lightning rod, letting us sort out our real candidate away from the glare of the media, while they all concentrate on tearing her apart.

If she IS planning to run, she's not saying, letting the radical right toss its arsenal at her (as well as getting what flak she must know is coming from the left), and preparing for everything negative in advance.

She's playing it smart, no matter what her plans are. I'm far from convinced she's planning to run, but I think no decision has been made, and probably won't be for at least another year.

[greatlaurel]

11. Never had the pleasure to met HRC, but I did get to see her at a campaign event in 2008.

She was very impressive, hearing her speak in person just won me over, as I had not yet decided who I would support. The way she treated the children who were onstage during her speech when the event was over demonstrated her true character. The TV cameras were gone and her handlers were trying to rush her off stage, as quickly as possible, but she would have none of that. She spoke to each child as if they were as important as any of the adults around her. She took extra time for each child and there were at least 2 dozen kids on stage. She listened to what they had to say intently. You could see on the kids' faces they knew she was being genuine with them. I wish I were more eloquent to describe her demeanor that day, but you can really see someone's character when they are dealing with the powerless. Hillary treated those kids like they were heads of state.

I understand why the GOP is terrified of her, but I am completely befuddled by the attacks on her from supposed progressives.

Thank you very much for your insights, DFW. I always appreciate your opinions.

[DFW]

12. I've met her a couple of times

She's very personable, much warmer in a one on one than she comes across on TV. And my parents experienced something very similar to what you described with the children. The year my dad was president of the Gridiron Club, she couldn't attend the dinner, so she invited my parents for a 5 minute chat at the White House. They took an instant liking to each other, and when her staff came in to hustle her off to some other appointment, she said to push everything back, and spent half an hour with my folks.

None of this has any bearing on her politics or whether or not she'll decide to run, of course, but as a person, there's more to her than most of the two-dimensional images that many try to use to portray her for whatever purpose.

[craigmatic]

13. He's running for VP.