Martin O’Malley wins at retail politics

[bigtree]

“I drove 100 miles to see him,” said a man at a Martin O’Malley house gathering in Ogden on Saturday. “I wanted to see him in person, and the trip is worth it.”



In a tiny house about an hour outside of the Des Moines metro, Democrat presidential candidate Martin O’Malley spoke to 35 Iowans about his vision for America and why he is the best choice for president. It was classic retail politics at hand, a forte of O’Malley’s campaign in Iowa. He’s previously held several living room meetings with caucus-goers across the state, one of the few candidates (the only Democrat) doing so. And he does it so well.

O’Malley began his 10 minute speech to the small group as he always does, with remarks about how “we are all a part of a self-creating mystery called the American dream.” From there, O’Malley outlines his credentials as the former governor of Maryland, highlighting his education and prison reform, budget management, social issue victories, and more. During this meeting, O’Malley sprinkled in more humor and Iowa references, such as corn, wind turbines, and a jab at Governor Terry Branstad. The rural group loved it. They laughed and smiled and O’Malley fed off of the positive energy. He answered new questions on train infrastructure: “I think we need to forge a new consensus on funding,” as well as how he aims to work with a potentially all-Republican Congress: “We aren’t going to be here forever. And this Republican Congress won’t be here forever.”

The voter quoted above was one of the most enthusiastic caucus-goers for O’Malley that I have met. He was “all in” for the Democrat, and his reasons were sound.

“I first heard him at the state fair,” said the Democrat. “And after his speech, I was hooked. He reminds me a lot of an earlier Barack Obama, and I just really want to get behind him and make it happen for him in Grundy County (where he is from).”

The man even hunted down an O’Malley staffer to receive more information booklets to take home to his community on behalf of the candidate. It was interesting to witness the enthusiasm and dedication this man has for O’Malley’s presidential campaign.





Directly after his stop in rural Ogden, O’Malley headed to “Pints and Politics” at a local brewery in Des Moines to end the night. A crowd of about 250 packed the bar on the Saturday night (on Labor Day weekend as well), swarming O’Malley for pictures and asking him off-the-cuff questions on education and pro-choice as he snaked his way through the crowd before standing on a chair to address the room.





Though it was a younger crowd (and much bigger) than Ogden, O’Malley still took the angle of a retail politician, using local references, adding in humor and charm, even singing “Happy Birthday” to a young man in the crowd and congratulating an older couple on their anniversary (they chose to spend it listening to O’Malley). And that’s the angle that works for O’Malley: not massive rallies or closed-door sessions, but good old-fashioned grassroots meetings in comfortable and familiar settings. It’s how Barack Obama did it, and how the trailblazer for the caucus, Jimmy Carter, did it back in the 70′s. Though O’Malley hasn’t necessarily caught the same fire as quickly as Obama did back in 2007, “I like the tough battles. I like tough odds,” he said to the brewery crowd, acknowledging his low polling numbers, he continues to dominate retail politics in Iowa.


read: http://sarahbeckman.tumblr.com/post/128486018147/martin-omalley-wins-at-retail-politics

related:

O'Malley Mixing Pints and Politics in Iowa
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251573568

[WI_DEM]

1. I like how...

O'Malley is calmly going about meeting voters, holding events and giving his views--while the media focuses on HRC, Bernie and the non-candidate (at least now) Biden.

[bigtree]

3. retail politics at its best

...tailor-made for Iowa.

[Peacetrain]

2. Yes he does..

[elleng]

4. BEAUTIFUL!

Thanks SO MUCH, bigtree!

[elleng]

5. 'He’s previously held several living room meetings with caucus-goers across the state,

one of the few candidates (the only Democrat) doing so.' Can you believe it???

[bigtree]

6. it really is amazing the extent to which O'Malley has those rooms to himself

..it has to be making a positive impact on his prospects there.

[elleng]

7. Yes, must be/is.

Has been confirmed by an Iowa DUer.

[elleng]

8. KICK!

[snooper2]

9. Kick for the best candidate running!

[elleng]

10. SURE IS!

[bigtree]

11. kick

[aikoaiko]

12. Meh. I drove 107 miles to see Bernie in Charleston, SC - not even my state.

I'm just teasing. O'Malley's mostly good with me.

[FSogol]

13. K & R. n/t

[hedgehog]

14. K&R