O’Malley feeding Iowa Democrats’ ‘hunger’ for new leadership

CEDAR RAPIDS - Martin O'Malley senses a 'tremendous hunger” among Iowa Democrats for new leadership that recognizes that despite the gains made since 2009, there's still work to do.

The former Maryland governor who is exploring a 2016 presidential bid has been busy feeding that hunger with frequent visits to Iowa and will be back in April for another course.

Iowa Democratic leaders suggest what O'Malley senses as hunger may be restlessness on the part of party activists for the 2016 campaign to begin in earnest. After all, the first-in-the-nation caucuses are less than a year away.

'Democrats get anxious when they see all the activity on the Republican side,” Linn County Chairman Bret Nilles said at a Cedar Rapids union hall where O'Malley spoke. 'People want to see something going on.”

Democrats may be packing the room for O'Malley, added Stephen Hanson, Iowa County Democratic chairman, 'but they are clearly still shopping” and may be looking for more choices.

Nilles thinks that in the back of the minds of many Democrats who are flirting with O'Malley, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren or Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders 'they are thinking that Hillary Clinton is going to get in.”

It's all part of the Iowa caucus process, according to Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Andy McGuire.

'What I love about Iowa is anybody who comes here and says that they honestly want to pursue the presidency, we give everybody a chance,” she said during taping of Iowa Public Television's Iowa Press March 27. 'We get them in our living rooms, we talk to them and nobody can predict what happens here.”

McGuire doesn't think Clinton has given O'Malley and others an opening by not being in Iowa and engaging potential precinct caucusgoers.

'No, I don't think anybody has waited too long,” McGuire said. 'I think it's going to be a great caucus and I think you'll see that.”

Nilles agreed that Democrats aren't worried about 2016, but want to hear someone articulate a progressive message.

O'Malley is making the most of the opportunity created by Clinton's infrequent visits to the first-in-the-nation state. He's done more than 30 events in Iowa while Clinton has done five since January 2014. He'll be back April 9 for the Central Iowa Democrats for Action kickoff and April 10 for the Polk County Democrats' Annual Spring Awards Dinner, both in Des Moines.

He doesn't criticize Clinton in his stumps speech. The closest he comes is saying that in visiting 31 states he repeatedly hears people say they want new leadership and to see things get done.

That plays to his strength as a former Baltimore mayor and Maryland governor, O'Malley said.

'The strengths I offer are those of an executive who was very effective at getting things done and able to take on powerful, wealthy special interests to defend the common good,” he said.

His experience outside of Washington matters, O'Malley said, because people feel they are better served by state and local governments than Washington.

'That makes them even more frustrated that their fed government has not embraced better ways to get things done,” he said.

O'Malley acknowledges he isn't the only governor contemplating a presidential bid, but isn't intimidated by the potential GOP candidates with gubernatorial experience.

'I would put my record of accomplishments in Maryland up against any of the governors on the Republican side of the equation right now,” he said.