O'Malley speaks to Polk County Democrats.

[elleng]

Presidential candidate Martin O'Malley was met with cheers and applause as he touched on several issues popular among Democrats while speaking Friday at the Polk County Democrats' Fall Dinner in Des Moines.

The former Maryland governor told his fellow Democrats he wants to raise the minimum wage, make college more affordable, implement a clean electric energy grid, reform immigration policies and reinstate the Glass-Steagall Act, which would keep commercial banks separate from investment banks.

But to accomplish that and more, Americans need to work together, O'Malley said.

On this point, the former Baltimore mayor offered some choice words to Republican front-runner Donald Trump.

"Instead of us having to sit passively and listen while that hate-spewing carnival barker Donald Trump tells us how we should hate immigrants, denigrates women and creates this sort of weird kind of exclusive economy where only a few of us can get ahead ... all of us running for the Democratic Party's nomination are going to talk about the beliefs that unite us, the fact that we're all in this together," O'Malley said, referring to the upcoming Democratic primary elections.

O'Malley said he's confident he can make changes to the U.S. as president because of his accomplishments as Maryland's governor, including abolishing the state's death penalty, passing the state's DREAM act to help immigrants afford college, legalizing same-sex marriage in Maryland, and reforming the state's gun laws to ban combat assault weapons.

As O'Malley listed his presidential goals and his accomplishments in Maryland, he was met with cheers from the audience of more than 200.

"We need to help each other if we're going to succeed in this country, and that's what the Democratic Party is about," he said.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/reality-check/iowa-caucuses/2015/10/10/omalley-speaks-polk-county-democrats/73702062/

[askew]

1. O'Malley got a great reception at the event it sounds like.

I feel like he is about to turn the corner in Iowa. His PAC is running ads to boost his name recognition. The debate is coming up. He is getting a lot of endorsements in Iowa.

Now, if he has a great debate I expect we'll see him really jump in Iowa.

[elleng]

2. I agree, and maybe more important

will be his national visibility will be greatly enhanced. After all Iowa and NH and SC and Nevada are not terribly important on their own, but people must notice him and MUST be willing to consider him, and many must be willing to CHANGE their MINDS!

[askew]

3. Yep, I feel like this week is the turning point for his campaign.

He just needs to have a good debate performance.