O'Malley's overwhelming victory hints at statewide potential

[Freddie Stubbs]

Fifteen months ago, Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley declared that he would remain focused on the challenges of City Hall and not run for governor because "there is no tougher fight, and no more noble cause, than the turnaround of a great American city."

O'Malley's overwhelming victory in yesterday's Democratic primary practically guarantees him a second term as mayor. But the decisiveness of the victory - capturing at least 66 percent of the vote, the largest margin in 20 years - leads some political observers to believe that he will see more tempting possibilities than sticking around until 2008 to finish his second term.

Many local Democrats look to O'Malley's rock-star charisma as the vehicle they can ride to recapture the governor's mansion from the Republicans in 2006.

"I think his future is limitless. I think Martin is one of the brightest stars in the Democratic Party," said C. Vernon Gray, a Morgan State University political science professor and former Howard County Council member. "He has what some people call it. He's able to generate excitement. And he really understands politics."

more: http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/bal-te.md.omalley10sep10,0,7717272.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

[davidinalameda]

1. he was kept out of the last race

by the powers that be

maybe he should have run against KKT

[Freddie Stubbs]

2. He probably couldn't have done much worse

[zbdent]

3. The spin is in - I heard one claim that the area

had 87 percent of the voters registered as Dems.