Martin O'Malley in 2016?

[irisblue]

Current Governor of Maryland, so what can the Maryland DUers tell me? Worth a look?

[customerserviceguy]

1. He'd have to do something very big

to get a tenth of the name recognition that Hillary Clinton has on a bad day. Maybe he can do one of those "get to know me" runs in 2016, to have a shot at '20 or '24.

[Hippo_Tron]

13. Iowa and New Hampshire are small places, people know you by the time they vote

If we had a national primary day Hillary would be inevitable (actually she wouldn't, because she'd be in her second term as President right now). But the fact of the matter is that ridiculous as it is, the early primary states are crucial to picking the winner and there's nothing that the candidates can do to change that. Giuliani tried and he had his ass handed to him.

[karynnj]

18. I don't think that is a bad thing.

Winning those states certainly does not guarantee a win - look at 1992.

What is can do is exactly what you said. A candidate can - with lots of work can get enough people to know them - even if they are not the media favorite or the best known. An example is Jimmy Carter. To most of us old enough to remember - he came out of nowhere and he struck enough people as what we needed at that contentious time. Another example, who obviously did not become President, is Kerry. He had less media support than ANY of the "viable" candidates and he stunned them by winning.

The good thing - ignoring those examples - is that after it gives someone less established a chance, they are then subjected to the scrutiny of being the front runner. If Iowa (or Iowa and NH) picked a horrible candidate, it would be corrected in the next set of states. (Here, look at last year's Republican circus.) I think you lose that with a national primary and, in doing so, hand the decision making to the powers that control the parties and media. My view is that they have too much influence as it is!

[Hippo_Tron]

19. It's a better system than a national primary in today's world of unlimited campaign spending

But it's still a horridly flawed system. Our absurd agriculture policies are partly a result of the fact that every Presidential candidate is forced to go to Iowa and promise that they will continue to provide massive subsidies for corn.

[karynnj]

20. I agree with the problems

I wonder if that problem could be partly eliminated by having a set of small states - any of which could get the two early primaries. They could randomly select the states two years before the primary. That still leaves 2 years of potential pandering votes, but at least they would not always be to the same place meaning that anyone with any future aspirations votes the way Iowa wants. Small states just because you want a state small enough that media doesn't swamp out person to person contact. (No matter how small Media will play a role.)

[OmahaBlueDog]

2. He gets a lot of mention, but he lacks wow factor.

I look for him to take Barbara Mikulski's place in 2016.

I think Deval Patrick's star is rising, as is Dan Malloy's. The GOP is working hard to pre-empt Hillary by making an issue out of Benghazi. Biden is Biden, and would be a solid pick.

[JaneQPublic]

3. Senator Barb is retiring? Where did you hear that?

She was just recently made the first woman to chair the Senate Appropriations Committee. She is "only" 76, which is relatively young compared to Leahy, Byrd, Thurmond, etc.

As far as O'Malley lacking the "wow" factor for a presidential run, I'll just point to how Martin was the DU Darling after a good long stretch of powerful appearances on the Sunday morning shows, making mincemeat of GOP debate opponents.

And after a series of legislative wins here in Maryland enacting solidly liberal laws, such as marriage equality, end to the death penalty, a state version of the Dream Act, one of the nation's toughest gun safety laws, full employment act for vetereans, and offshore wind energy, he has a pretty strong record to run on.

That said, I hope he does run for president in 2016, but only with an eye toward being Hillary's VP.

Oh, and one more thing. Can you honestly look at this photo of Marty playing with his Celtic Rock band and say he lacks a wow factor?

<a href=".html" target="_blank"><img src="" border="0" alt=" photo omalleysmarch.jpg"/></a>

[monmouth3]

6. Forget that handsome kid from Saudi Arabia. Marty has him beat by a mile..LOL...Yowzer....n/t

[Chan790]

8. I'm hoping he's the one that ends her political career.

There's going to be a stalking horse "I'm not Hillary" candidate this time again and I hope it's him. Whoever comes out of that crowd will be the nominee IMO and the next President.

I think if Hillary's the nominee...she ends up losing.

[OmahaBlueDog]

9. You don't see retirement as likely?

Jeepers - she'll be 79 in 2016, and she's been in the Senate since '86.

As far as O'Malley lacking the "wow" factor for a presidential run, I'll just point to how Martin was the DU Darling after a good long stretch of powerful appearances on the Sunday morning shows, making mincemeat of GOP debate opponents.

Deval Patrick and Dan Malloy have both had a lot of TV face time dealing with horrific tragedies in their states. Patrick absolutely wowed people with his convention speech. O'Malley -- not so much.

And after a series of legislative wins here in Maryland enacting solidly liberal laws, such as marriage equality, end to the death penalty, a state version of the Dream Act, one of the nation's toughest gun safety laws, full employment act for vetereans, and offshore wind energy, he has a pretty strong record to run on.

The nutters are doing a pretty good job labeling his wastewater fees as the "tax on rain." (see example below).



So you have that to deal with. Then you have the fact that - yes, he's passed solid liberal legislation -- but has he actually dealt with a crisis. Biden, Clinton, Patrick, and Malloy can make that claim.

As someone else said in the thread -- it's too early. We'll get a much better picture after the 2014 midterms.

[Agschmid]

12. Oh hey there PIPES.

Is there a drool smiley somewhere?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

15. He gave a less than stellar DNC speech last year, but so did Bill Clinton back in the day.

He's a bulldog, however, when it comes to taking on Republicans on these so-called Sunday morning talk shows.

Case in point:

[Mponti]

4. I like what I've seen of him and hope he will challenge HRC

[avebury]

5. Probably a bid to be in contention for the VP slot. nt

[treestar]

7. Too early

2014 2014 2014 2014 2014

2014

[JNelson6563]

10. Amen!

[Agschmid]

11. Yup!

I have really liked him for a while now.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

14. He's been an outstanding governor and has also been quite liberal during the course of 8 years.

Chalk it up to this great state's move to the center-left. The Democrats dominate every aspect of government here. And even some of the more conservative Democrats have been ousted by more liberal Democrats (e.g. Donna Edwards defeat of Al Wynn).

He may be too liberal for mainstream America, but he'd be a great senator or VP.

[CTyankee]

16. I see him a great candidate for VP with Elizabeth Warren for President!

Or with Hillary.

A woman president of the USA is FAR overdue...

[mgcgulfcoast]

17. im sticking with hillary.