# Martin O'Malley for President thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 31, 2015, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241 "2015-05-31T05:33:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/202 "2015-12-22T14:01:34Z")
I thought O’Malley did all right in the debate the other night. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/203 "2015-12-23T09:12:41Z")
O’Malley’s fine, I think he’s just setting himself up to be “next”. He won’t be President and won’t be Vice President either, in 2016. But he can get his name out there and start approaching the big donors and activists before potential candidates who now have less name recognition than he does get rolling. Ideally for O’Malley, Clinton loses the general and in 2020 he runs against the Republican incumbent as the candidate of change and competence. Plus in 2020 most of his likely opposition will either be too old or not ready for primetime. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/204 "2015-12-29T21:04:46Z")
[One person shows up to O’Malley event in Iowa. Remains uncommitted.](http://www.politico.com/story/2015/12/martin-omalley-iowa-event-217193)\* \*Granted there was a massive snowstorm but its still a fun story. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/205 "2015-12-30T04:57:02Z")
Yes, it was. Thanks. My eldest son, a university freshman, spent the week before Christmas volunteering with the O’Malley campaign in Manchester, N.H. He’s an even bigger political junkie than me, and wanted some grassroots campaign experience working for a candidate he likes. He did phonebanking, a lit drop, advance work for a town hall meeting, and held a sign outside the sole Dem debate in New Hampshire. He also got to meet O’Malley at the after-debate party and talk briefly with him, which was definitely a highlight of the week for him. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/206 "2015-12-30T06:40:23Z")
Good Lord, man, this is serious! I only hope we are not too late! Sex, drugs and rock 'n roll, _stat_! Only cure when its this bad! ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/207 "2015-12-30T23:42:38Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > He also got to meet O’Malley at the after-debate party and talk briefly with him, which was definitely a highlight of the week for him. I’m guessing it was a nice, long conversation, since he would have had O’Malley all to himself. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/208 "2015-12-31T06:25:08Z")
I don’t mind O’Malley, not that into him, don’t dislike him, but even if I did, the poor sumbitch didn’t deserve that. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/209 "2015-12-31T11:46:03Z")
Sure he’s a good guy, but he’s polling right around zero. Not that it matters for a guy who’s running for running mate, though. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/210 "2015-12-31T19:37:15Z")
He doesn’t qualify for the Ohio ballot. Time to suspend his campaign. > **[O’Malley fails to qualify for Ohio ballot](https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/264509-omalley-fails-to-qualify-for-ohio-ballot/)** > > The Democratic hopeful failed to get the 1,000 required signatures. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2016, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/211 "2016-01-01T03:31:16Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Sure he’s a good guy, but he’s polling right around zero. Not that it matters for a guy who’s running for running mate, though. If that was his goal he’s not too bright, because he adds nothing to a ticket. No, he actually expected to do better, and I suspect he’ll be back for the next go around, when he won’t have to compete with candidates better known than he is. Chances are, he’ll be the best known candidate in the field next time due to the most well known Democrats not named O’Malley being in their 70s by then. I think O’Malley also didn’t count on Sanders. O’Malley was going to be the liberal alternative to Clinton, and in a universe where Sanders doesn’t run, O’Malley probably at least polls well enough to win some delegates. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2016, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/212 "2016-01-01T05:29:08Z")
I’m wincing over his falling short in Ohio. I think state law permits him to gather additional signatures now to try to qualify by the Jan. 5 deadline. > [@adaher](#): > > …he actually expected to do better, and I suspect he’ll be back for the next go around, when he won’t have to compete with candidates better known than he is. Chances are, he’ll be the best known candidate in the field next time due to the most well known Democrats not named O’Malley being in their 70s by then. > > I think O’Malley also didn’t count on Sanders. O’Malley was going to be the liberal alternative to Clinton, and in a universe where Sanders doesn’t run, O’Malley probably at least polls well enough to win some delegates. That’s pretty much how I see it. I think O’Malley hoped all along to be the un-Hillary, just as Obama was in 2008, and to attract most if not all of those who can’t stand her. Sanders utterly wrecked that plan. Too bad. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/213 "2016-01-08T12:16:59Z")
The campaign tried to at least get him qualified as a write-in candidate in Ohio. Unfortunately the paperwork was submitted [16 hours too late](http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268748/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=XU1dzFJf). ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/214 "2016-01-08T18:26:29Z")
Ugh. What a mess. Here’s Vox on O’Malley’s achievements in Maryland but his current political struggles: [The case for Martin O'Malley - Vox](http://www.vox.com/2016/1/8/10695420/martin-omalley) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2016, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/215 "2016-01-10T18:21:24Z")
[He’s on the verge of relegation to the kiddie table.](http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/blog/bal-omalley-narrowly-qualifies-for-fourth-debate-20160108-story.html) He might even finish behind [Michael Bloomberg.](http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/09/politics/michael-bloomberg-2016-president-campaign/) Sorry, Marty. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/217 "2016-01-21T04:14:46Z")
Still slogging through Iowa, perhaps with an eye on 2020: [Iowans like Martin O'Malley, even if they're not voting for him](http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2016/01/19/martin-omalley-trail/78693848/) ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/218 "2016-01-21T04:43:16Z")
Sort of interesting how poorly he’s done. He seems a decent candidate, and you’d think there’d be some appetite for a non-Bernie Clinton alternative. Ah well, sounds like he’s got **Elendil’s Heir’s** heir’s vote anyways. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2016, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/219 "2016-01-23T03:02:47Z")
Here’s Salon on how the media’s obsessions with frontrunners gives candidates like O’Malley and the GOP “undercard” short shrift: [The media's dangerous Hillary-centrism: Why our obsession with frontrunners is hurting the Democratic Party | Salon.com](http://www.salon.com/2016/01/19/the_medias_dangerous_hillary_centrism_why_our_obsession_with_frontrunners_is_hurting_the_democratic_party/#comments) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2016, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/220 "2016-01-23T12:36:51Z")
There are \*reasons \*they’re frontrunners, yanno. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2016, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/221 "2016-01-23T13:08:28Z")
Certainly isn’t because of their resumes. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2016, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/222 "2016-01-23T14:25:36Z")
I \*really \*don’t think you want to go there, friend. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241.md?page=12)