O'Malley to House Dems: U.S. Needs New Leadership

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley had a simple message for House Democrats Tuesday: If he can’t be their first choice for president now, he’d like to be their second choice, and maybe get their support in the future.

O’Malley spoke Tuesday morning with the House Democratic Caucus at the group’s weekly meeting. His message was that the country is looking for new leadership, and that his campaign, while lagging significantly in the polls, is gaining ground in the early voting states.

The vast majority of the caucus, nearly 150 of the 188 members, have endorsed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the party’s presidential primary, according to FiveThirtyEight’s endorsement tracker. Just one lawmaker, California Rep. Eric Swalwell, has endorsed O’Malley (two have backed Sen. Bernie Sanders).

“I certainly asked all of the members, if I could not today be their first choice, I would like to today be their second choice and I look forward to their support in the future,” O’Malley told reporters after the meeting. “I don’t expect any endorsements today and I do expect endorsements later in this process once the people start to decide."

During the meeting, O’Malley pitched fellow Democrats on his list of accomplishments as mayor of Baltimore and governor of Maryland, including passing major gun control measures -- which earned applause from the lawmakers -- passing the DREAM Act, legalizing same-sex marriage, and increasing the minimum wage, according to Swalwell. The governor was received well, attendees said, getting standing ovations when he entered and left.

“He’s considered a great friend, a great Democrat, and one of the best governors that we’ve seen in quite some time,” said Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra, who has endorsed Clinton. “All of us were thrilled and pleased that he took the time to visit with us and give us more words about his leadership and what he would do for this country."

After the meeting, O’Malley set up a sharp contrast between himself, Clinton and Sanders, telling reporters that Democrats face a choice in the primary between crony capitalism and socialism.

“Between the sort of crony capitalist and Wall Street capitalism, economy of the few, by the few, for the few, and the proven failure that is socialism, there is a better way forward and it is fair market, American capitalism where, when people work hard, they’re able to get ahead,” O’Malley said. “That is the sort of philosophy I put into action as governor and even as mayor.”

He also attacked both of his opponents on the issue of immigration, pointing in particular to a 2007 failed vote on comprehensive reform in the Senate when both Clinton and Sanders were in the upper chamber. That legislation would have offered legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants while providing increased border security, but it failed to pass despite some bipartisan support. O’Malley criticized Sanders for voting against the measure, and Clinton for supporting it while also voting for an amendment he labeled a “poison pill” that helped kill the legislation.

“Sen. Sanders has a big vulnerability, as does Secretary Clinton, on the issue of immigration,” O’Malley said. “Theirs is the old thinking that’s prevented us from getting this done. Theirs is the old thinking that says one thing to one group and one thing to another. Theirs is the old thinking that fails to recognize that comprehensive immigration reform actually makes our economy stronger and our country stronger."

Swalwell said O’Malley also set up contrasts between Republicans he might face in the general election, positioning himself as able to take on the “carnival show that the Donald Trump campaign would be” and also able to contrast the potential message of youth and energy that would come from Sen. Marco Rubio.

Swalwell said he hopes that in the coming months some of his colleagues will join him in endorsing O’Malley, but that today’s meeting was about showing that the former governor is a viable alternative to the front-running Clinton and Sanders.

“He’s patient, he’s prepared and he’s offering members of the caucus time to watch and evaluate him and come on board when it’s right for them,” Swalwell said. “I think right now he’s proven that he’s a credible, viable candidate for our party’s nomination."

Clinton spoke to the caucus this past summer; Sanders has been invited to appear before the group but has not yet done so.