O’Malley preparing 'ground work' for potential 2016 run
Baltimore (CNN) – Gov. Martin O’Malley told reporters on Monday that while he is focused on his last year as governor, he is also weighing the possibility of a presidential run in 2016.
“Leadership is important and we will have a need for a new leader once President Obama’s term in office is over,” O’Malley said. “So, I have been preparing in terms of the tough work, the policy work, the ground work necessary to offer a better direction for our country.”
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The governor added that while he is “not here to make an announcement,” he has been “giving the thought time and the preparation to a better way forward for our country for the next eight years.”
O’Malley, who was at St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church in Baltimore for an event focused on raising the minimum wage, has been the focus of 2016 speculation since he told The Washington Post on Saturday that while he has “a great deal of respect for Hillary Clinton,” he can’t wait for the former secretary of state and prohibitive favorite for the Democratic nomination in 2016 to decide whether she will run.
“For my own part, I have a responsibility to prepare and to address the things that I feel a responsibility to address,” he told the Post. “To squander this important period of preparation because of horse-race concerns and handicapping concerns is just not a very productive use of energy.”
O’Malley confirmed what he said in the Post, but he told reporters on Monday that he wasn’t interested in detailing how prominently Clinton will weigh in his decision making process.
“I am not really about the handicapping in this, I will leave that to you all and to others. I am about the thought work necessary,” the governor said. “No one ever goes down this road without giving it a lot of consideration and a lot of preparation and a lot of thought work. And so that is what I am doing.”
Should O'Malley run in 2016, he finds himself as a dark horse candidate in a field dominated by Clinton. In last month's Washington Post/ABC News poll, O'Malley didn't register as one of the candidates Democrats would choose for 2016. In a November 2013 CNN/ ORC International Poll, 2% of Democrats said they would like to see O'Malley nominated for president in 2016.
On the other hand, Clinton – who has yet to declare her candidacy and says she is still mulling a run – has held historic leads over her possible Democratic challengers. In the recent Washington Post/ ABC News poll, 73% of Democrats said they would nominate her to run for the White House in 2016.
Gov. O'malley, you will be next when Hillary's term ends–till then hold patience, support Democratic Party. Good luck.
Gurgyl
Gov. O'malley, you will be next when Hillary's term ends–till then hold patience, support Democratic Party. Good luck.
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If O'Malley feels inspired to run in 2016, then I would encourage him to do so. I would not worry about stepping on somebody's toes, either. If, and I repeat if, Clinton runs and wins the nomination, then she wil still need a running mate on the card. Preferably a running mate with some national name recognition, which is an area where Democrats are lagging behind Republicans by a significant margin. Luckily for Democrats, however, almost all of the Republicans are not good candidates.
Let him join too. He is fully aware he can't beat Hillary but we can't put all our eggs in one basket.
2016 is not your year O'Malley. I like the job you're doing in Maryland. I like the fact that you've never turned your back on THIS President, but 2016 belongs to HIllary, and 2020 if she handles her business.
Maybe VP , "It's a Long Way to Tipperary"
Hillary will not be the DCN nominee.
I wouldn't mind seeing a good primary, but the nomination is Hillary's either way it goes.
I've always liked you Governor but I think you know better than anyone it's time for a woman to be President and that woman is Hillary Rodham Clinton. You're turn will come and when it does there are a lot of us who will support you. Hang in there and keep doing the good work you are doing for the people of Maryland.
“So, I have been preparing in terms of the tough work, the policy work, the ground work necessary to offer a better direction for our country.”
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Better direction? Shouldn't be too difficult.
These comments are hysterical. Hillary will not get a free ride to the coronation. O'Malley and others will tear away at her if she runs. It will be 2008 all over again and then some. No one likes O'Malley, except for diehard Democrats. So, he might make the ticket...but lose the election.
@Peace
Let him join too. He is fully aware he can't beat Hillary but we can't put all our eggs in one basket.
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Plus we need all the progressive ideas we can get to form platforms. Liberals are good at synthesizing many different points of view. The RNC convention, by comparison will simply be a conservative flag waving fight to see who is more exteme.
@Fair is Fair – Better direction? Shouldn't be too difficult.
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That's what we thought in 2008 after 8 disastrous years of Republican rule. Trouble was, the captain didn't factor the GOP jamming the rudder into the equation. We've seen how much damage that has caused.
Fair is Fair wrote:
Better direction? Shouldn't be too difficult.
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I agree. It shouldn't be too difficult. But, there are plenty of people out there tyring to make suer that it is difficult. They've publicly stated many, many times that they want to "take our country back", whatever that means. I think they mean that they do not like the changes that have come about over the last 50-100 years. They were resistant to the changes then, and they seem to be even more openly resistant to them now.
-Fair is Fair
“So, I have been preparing in terms of the tough work, the policy work, the ground work necessary to offer a better direction for our country.”
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Better direction? Shouldn't be too difficult.
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If your definition of a better direction is taking your marching orders from Freedomworks and the other GOP astrorurf groups, you're right, its not too difficult: just ask Rick Scott how well that has been working for him. I doubt it would be better for the country, though, if you botehr to include anyone who actually works for a living.
I say go for it Gov.
Right fair, gw had us going in the right direction, is that what your implying?
Leave it to the rwnj to suggest we were going good the last of bush term, reality check! Record inequality, 95% of wealth to the top 1%, what do you have to smoke to believe that was good for us?
Expert economist's the world over call the policies dangerous, irresponsible, and very unfair. Not to mention the tax breaks for the rich BS, they all vehemently disagree, but hey, what would they know, fair has it all figured out, she's the real economist .