By R. Brownell
1. The governor’s advantage
Unlike the other two announced contenders in the race for the Democratic Party’s nomination, O’Malley is the only potential candidate who has experience governing, the daily ins and outs, of a state. This gives O’Malley the advantage of proving his record of leadership and dealing with challenges similar to that of what the office of POTUS would entail. The electorate would see this as being more preferable to the former senator, first lady, and secretary of state, poor service record of Hillary Clinton, and Bernie Sander’s life of being a career politician.
2. Popularity within the party
During his eight years of being Governor of Maryland, O’Malley’s approval ratings stayed at a consistent average rating of 50% or higher. In a recent CNN article, O’Malley was called the “hardest working man in Democratic politics”:
he’s steered money and staff to 134 Democratic campaigns in more than 25 states, aiding high-profile Senate hopefuls and little-known county commissioner candidates alike.
By building up the party’s base, O’Malley is working to build up the entire party’s coalition, contrary to the Southern Democrats that pushed Clinton far in 2008, and the smaller progressive wing tied to home to such senators like Elizabeth Warren, who would swing towards Sanders.
3. He is the youngest of the current candidates
In the age of Obama, millennial voters have proven time and time again since 2008 that they prefer a younger candidate in office. O’Malley, age 52 (making him the youngest of candidates), himself has stated in the past that he empathizes with young people, unlike the other candidates running:
“I am noticing a generational shift…While baby boomers were led to believe that sometimes our prosperity comes from separating from other, people under 40 believe that it will come from being closer to others”.
4. Will drastically use the peace card to attack war hawk Hillary
With both a large number of Democrat and Republican voters crying out for a non-interventionist foreign policy, O’Malley, while not necessarily giving a firm stance on his foreign policy position, certainly is in a better position for crafting a platform during the primaries (if he does choose to seek the party nomination), that would drastically take aim at Hillary Clinton’s disastrous foreign policy record.
5. A change of pace
Voters have shown in numerous reports that they do not want to have to face a Bush vs Clinton race in 2016. O’Malley was applauded by many Democrats and Republicans during a recent statement he made in March, which elevated his possible 2016 stature:
“Let’s be honest here, the presidency of the United States is not some crown to be passed between two families.”