With the timing and nature of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in doubt, not-so-quiet speculation has been circling increasingly this week as to who might be a more viable alternative to the beleaguered former Secretary of State.
Though almost non-existent in any of the recent polls taken, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley announced he will not run to fill the state’s U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Barbara Mikulski in 2016.
The announcement is being read by analysts as a tip of O’Malley’s hand to a budding run for the White House, which has been the subject of speculation for nearly a year.
O’Malley has traveled extensively in recent months to the early primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire in probable hopes that he can extend his profile outside of Maryland. And should Sen. Elizabeth Warren stick with her claim of no intentions to run, O’Malley could take the official mantel as chief challenger.
Though Hillary still commands a 50-plus-point position in the polls to O’Malley’s virtual zero, the matchup would be similar to the one faced by her husband in the 1992 Democrat primary fight in which the little-known Arkansas governor came from a last place position to ultimately win the White House.
Nonetheless, should Hillary capture the nomination despite her ongoing political woes, a respectful showing by O’Malley in the race could easily position him for a Vice Presidential slot on the Democrat ticket.
