While newly announced presidential candidate Hillary Clinton enjoyed Chipotle on her well-publicized road trip to Monticello, Iowa on Monday, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley sought to remind supporters of his presence in the field of potential Democratic nominees.
O’Malley sent an email to supporters Monday morning, telling them about his travels to Iowa and New Hampshire last week.
“One of the many great things about the people of Iowa and New Hampshire is that they take seriously and personally their responsibility to vet anyone offering themselves for higher office,” O’Malley wrote.
He also continued a pattern of the last couple of weeks, calling for new leadership in the country, implying that Clinton is part of an older generation whose time has passed.
“There are moments in our history when new leadership is needed to move our country forward. This is one of them,” O’Malley wrote in his email.
He’s said repeatedly over the last couple of weeks that the presidency is not a hereditary right or “a crown to be passed back and forth between two families.”
The email also included a 20-second YouTube video highlighting some of O’Malley’s visit.
O’Malley is expected to make an announcement about his presidential aspirations next month.
Mikulski Endorses Clinton
O’Malley won’t find much support from his mother’s boss, Sen. Barbara Mikulski. She endorsed Clinton in a statement released Sunday afternoon, just after Clinton announced her candidacy.
“Whoopee, Hillary is off and running! I’m ready for Hillary. And America is ready for Hillary. She is going to break that glass ceiling once and for all. When we put Hillary in the Oval Office, she will make history and change history. She will take our hopes and dreams with her,” Mikulski said.
Despite her ties to O’Malley, (O’Malley’s mother Barbara O’Malley has been Mikulski’s receptionist for 27 years) Mikulski has been a strong supporter of women candidates and women’s rights issues throughout her time in office, and her endorsement was not a surprise.
Cummings Number One?
Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Baltimore, says that he’s leading the race to succeed Mikulski, who will retire when her term ends in 2017, but he still hasn’t decided whether he will run for the U.S. Senate seat, the Baltimore Sun reported Monday.
“I’m still trying to figure it out,” Cummings said. “Poll came back and I was running No. 1. I haven’t seen a poll yet where I’m not running No. 1.”