= new reply since forum marked as read
The only answer I personally see is that while Senator Sanders has been a mayor and a representative and a senator — and I say this with much respect for him… O'Malley was an assistant state attorney, a councilperson. a mayor and a governor.
Burlington and Vermont are far different from Baltimore and Maryland. I believe that on a local and State level — the things they dealt with were very different.
I am a member of the democratic party. I am not ashamed of saying that. Martin O'Malley has always been a member of the party I affiliate with.
Having said that, there is something that bothers me. While Sanders always caucused with Dems when he was elected to office as a representative and later as a Senator, he was never a part of trying to build the infra-structure of the Democratic party to what his vision is. He has always made it clear that he is not a member of the party. The party has been very happy to have him caucus with us, but…
He has not helped with the legwork in building the party platform.
He is reaping the gains of the party without having contributed to the party as a member. Just to be clear, I am talking about PARTY politics. If anyone wants to know why party partisans are reluctant to say that he is a viable candidate, I think it's because he has never been willing to say he is a Democrat. I respect that. He's not.
Right now, to the best of my vision, he is running as a Democrat because that is his best chance to be elected on a national scale. I think this is the first time he has ever run as a Dem — and he still is not a member of the party.
That is not a slam, this is a fact.
Considering we have O'Malley, I feel a little uneasy about a man that is running for the nomination of the Democratic party. Martin is a life long member of the Democratic Party.
He has a track record with working across party lines to get things done. I like that. I appreciate that. I want that in a president.
Martin O'Malley is a life long member of the Democratic party. He worked to get the longest serving female senator elected. Heck… His mother still works for Barbara Mikulski.
It's not incumbent for O'Malley to slow down anything. It is for him to move forward with his ideas and his record.
Going back to your question, I have a feeling, and this is nothing more than a feeling that his not being a part of helping to build and change the Democratic Party platform will become an issue for people who are Democrats. I agree with everything that Bernie says; Most Dems do — but he never wanted to be a part of the party I am in. Now he wants my vote. I don't know if I like that.
I am a liberal.
I am a progressive.
I'm a member of the Democratic party and I am looking forward to our primaries. 
