Dem insider: O'Malley can't win Democratic Party nomination because he's a "mainstream white male"

[NYCButterfinger]

Several said O'Malley has been doing all of the right things but that there's little appetite in the Democratic Party for a mainstream white male candidate when the front-runner has the chance to be the first female president and the leading insurgent is running on a deeply progressive message.
"Martin O'Malley has done absolutely everything a caucus candidate is supposed to do," an Iowa Democrat said. "Small to medium-sized events that everyone can get into? Check. Shake every hand in the room? Check. Answer a lot of questions, and answer them right? Yep. Good performance at cattle calls? Yes. In 2004 that would have him near the head of the pack. But he's still at 3 percent. This is an identity politics election. Move The Democrats Left is identity politics every bit as much as Woman President is. And there is no room in that mix for a mainstream Democrat who also happens to be a straight white male."


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/summers-biggest-losers-walker-and-omalley-213318#ixzz3kmydRyjH

I find it odd, though, but thoughts?

[Vattel]

1. "Move The Democrats Left" is identity politics?

[JustAnotherGen]

2. Odd

I'm a straight black 42 year old woman and I'm O'Malley all the way. This article doesn't make sense to me at all.

[Mass]

3. This is exactly why we lost the elections in 2014.

Instead of fighting on a message inspiring to all, but still dealing with specific problems for different groups, the DNC and the other different organs ran on a message that was incredibly shallow and dismissive of the voters. There was the message for women (largely abortion and family leave), the message for hispanics (minimum wages and undocumented workers), the message for African-Americans (mostly voting rights).

All those are important messages, but they was no central message. In particular, as somebody whose husband works 24 hours a week for $11 an hour and is a white male, we were feeling totally ignored. We were basically told we were idiots because he wanted to work longer hours, that we should be happy because he earned more than $10 a week. Well, we were never told that explicitly, obviously, but the absence of a general message that would apply to us by the DNC, DCCC, and DSCC was striking. The only message that was applying to us was when they needed money (what, you cannot give us $3, you will be responsible for our defeat).

So, I am not surprised at all that O'Malley would be seen like that. He does not fit the little boxes the DNC has defined. At least, Sanders fits the populist box. O'Malley does not.

One of the strangest campaign I have seen is the campaign to raise wages for fast-food workers to $15. Except if I miss something, while I support this, can somebody tell me why it is limited to fast-food workers. Do some people believe that it is only the hospitality industry that has lousy wages?

[Raine1967]

4. Strange.

… and a little bothersome.

So we are left with a supposed fringe candidate and a woman? That's pretty dismissive on a lot of levels. All three candidates are running on positions.

I don't know if this is harbinger, but this was also in the article:

On the Democratic side, overall, 54 percent said Sanders had the best summer. He and Clinton tied for the best in Iowa, but in New Hampshire, where Sanders has made inroads in the polls, 60 percent of New Hampshire Democrats said he won the summer, while only 40 percent named Clinton.

"Bernie's campaign has brilliantly tapped the anti-establishment crowd," an unaffiliated New Hampshire Democrat said. "Nothing short of genius."

A New Hampshire Democrat added that there is goodwill toward the progressive senator, even if he is not expected to ultimately be the nominee.

"Clearly the alternative to Hillary," the insider said. "Bernie has energized the left; never pragmatic but always vocal. Hillary will win in the end, but Bernie will have a big say in how the convention plays out ... and good for him!"

I know the O'Malley campaign is quite aware of all of this. They are plugging along knowing these optics.

[Garrett78]

10. "Clearly the alternative to Hillary," the insider said.

That, I think, is O'Malley's biggest problem. There's the big name, neoliberal establishment candidate who ran in '08 and is married to a former POTUS. And then there's the progressive alternative, Sanders. That doesn't leave much room for anyone else. Even Biden, the sitting VPOTUS, would have a tough time making headway unless Clinton really falters.

It also doesn't help that there hasn't been a debate yet. A large chunk of the electorate still hasn't even heard of Sanders, so you can just imagine how many have never heard of O'Malley. As difficult as that is to believe, remember that most people don't follow politics very closely.

[elleng]

11. Yes, and part of the plan:

It also doesn't help that there hasn't been a debate yet. A large chunk of the electorate still hasn't even heard of Sanders, so you can just imagine how many have never heard of O'Malley. As difficult as that is to believe, remember that most people don't follow politics very closely.

[restorefreedom]

5. yes, i agree, odd

and i would also call bullshit on the "insider" who is for sure a hillary supporter. om has a message and a charisma that appeals to many. corporate msm has been falling over themselves to pretend there is only one dem candidate. they reek of desperation in trying to suppress the progressive message and the candidates who are delivering that message.

it is another version of "only hillary can win."

[SonderWoman]

6. I don't trust Politico or anonymous "Dem insiders".

That being said, I think O'Malley should definitely run again if he doesn't get the nom this time.

[NYCButterfinger]

7. O'Malley should run in (2020**), 2024, or 2028

Look how many times Richard Gephardt ran? Look how many times Jesse Jackson runs. If O'Malley has a good message, he can pull it off in the future. He has lots of options:

Democratic presidential nominee in 2016
Democratic vice presidential running mate in 2016 (or 2020, 2024, 2028)
Senator in 2018 if Cardin retires
DNC chairman after 2017

[hifiguy]

8. Martin O'Malley is going to be a BIG part

of the future of the party. And that is a damned good thing.

[Marrah_G]

9. I don't think that is the reason.

He just hasn't gathered much momentum. I think he needs to start using social media in a big way. That is how many people get information these days. Twitter and Facebook campaigns can be a springboard for change.