O'Malley May Announce Presidential Run May 30: Report

Supporters of former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley say he is likely to declare his candidacy for the Democratic party’s presidential nomination at a May 30 event in Baltimore.

The Washington Post reports O’Malley will join Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont in challenging frontrunner Hillary Clinton for the nomination in 2016. Former Rhode Island governor and senator Lincoln Chafee and former Virginia Sen. James Webb have also been mentioned as possible Democratic candidates, while Vice President Joe Biden hasn’t yet said if he will again seek the nomination.

O’Malley, 52, will tell supporters about the announcement in a conference call night, The Post says. An email to backers promised “an important update on his imminent 2016 plans.”

O’Malley, who served the two-term limit for governor in Maryland, has been touring the country, and has said he’s “seriously thinking” about a run for President in 2016. He spent time in the past year speaking to grassroots activities in Iowa, the first caucus state in the country, and the early primary state of New Hampshire.

O’Malley, arrived in New Hampshire Wednesday to campaign for Congressional candidates, attend house parties and take part in a private fundraiser for the House Democratic Caucus at the New Hampshire Democratic Party headquarters.

In a January news conference, O’Malley said he is “seriously thinking about” running for president.

The former Baltimore mayor and his family have moved back to the city since he left the governor’s mansion.

“I’m very seriously considering running in 2016,” he said.

Last month O’Malley courted Iowans, who caucus in nine months, with a pro-union populist message. His biggest challenge may be his low name recognition in a state where voters are used to meeting presidential candidates one-on-one, quizzing them about issues.

Tom Henderson, chairman of the Polk County Democratic Party in Des Moines, told The Wall Street Journal Iowa voters will take O’Malley seriously because of his record that includes ending Maryland’s death penalty, raising the minimum wage and legalizing same-sex marriage.

“Most Iowans want to look over all the candidates and make their own determination,” Henderson told the WSJ. “This is not done by any means and if Hillary Clinton takes the state for granted, she will not win.”

Mileah Kromer, a political scientist who oversees the Goucher poll and a professor at Goucher College, said in January that O’Malley’s record, such as abolishing the death penalty and legalizing gay marriage, will play well with the Democratic primary electorate, but he will likely be unsuccessful in his bid for the presidency.

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