2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumMartin O'Malley needs to drop out now and endorse Bernie Sanders
Apologies to the O'Malley fans, but to be blunt he can't win period. The latest CBS/NY Times national poll was Clinton 48, Sanders 41, and O'Malley 2. Nearly all his votes would go to Sanders, which is desperately needed in such a tight race.
Then there's the debates. Bernie's message would be much better projected if it were just one-on-one with Hillary. O'Malley seems to go after Bernie a lot more than Hillary in the debates.
Please, Martin O'Malley. Do the right thing and endorse Sanders!

Blue_Adept
(6,454 posts)Get on the Bernie train or be dragged through the mud, vilified and pilloried!
Maedhros
(10,007 posts)Your post is needlessly confrontational, inaccurate, and unnecessary. Perhaps you should re-assess your posting strategies?
KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)Reter
(2,188 posts)I like him, but he can't win and takes away more votes from Bernie than Hillary. Should Pataki have stayed in the GOP race?
libdem4life
(13,877 posts)cali
(114,904 posts)I see no reason why he should drop out before Iowa
John Poet
(2,510 posts)actual voters, of Iowa and New Hampshire at least. Maybe Nevada and South Carolina too.
Sure, an endorsement of Bernie would be nice,
but I don't necessarily see that happening.
loyalsister
(13,390 posts)It will be good for us to get to know him more via primaries. I think he would be a great VP for Bernie.
PyaarRevolution
(814 posts)I remember him HAMMERING Clinton about to back Glass Steigel.
bigtree
(91,790 posts)...he's no flack for Bernie or anyone else.
Martin O'Malley is running for president and is asking for voter's support. Be sure and watch him on the debate stage Sunday with the other two leading candidates in our party.
Martin O'Malley ?@MartinOMalley
#GOPDebate was ultimate #TBT. If you think we can do better, need new leadership to build on @POTUS' progress visit: http://martinomalley.com/join
Punkingal
(9,522 posts)Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)C'mon, we can wait until after NH to see where it goes, right?
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)He should have a podium at the debates.
I don't agree your thoughts are "the right thing."
I also think O'Malley is more in line with Clinton than Sanders.
JonLeibowitz
(6,282 posts)StevieM
(10,574 posts)And you don't know that O'Malley would prefer Sanders to Clinton. Maybe he honestly prefers Clinton between the two.
And I hardly think it is fair to say that endorsing one candidate or the other is the "right thing to do." People endorse based on who they want to win, based on their own beliefs and preferences. Everyone is entitled to their own endorsement, just as everyone is entitled to their own vote.
HerbChestnut
(3,649 posts)43% of O'Malley's supporters in Iowa would choose Bernie as their second choice while only 20% would choose Clinton.
StevieM
(10,574 posts)First, that is only one state, and a caucus state at that. It doesn't speak to the later contests. In 2008 Edwards was believed to have hurt Obama more in Iowa, but Clinton more in New Hampshire and South Carolina.
Second, that is a 23 point margin, or the equivalent of 61.35 to 38.5 for Sanders. The person I was responding to suggested that virtually all O'Malley voters would go to Sanders.
HerbChestnut
(3,649 posts)I'd say that makes it relevant. It's also the state where he polls the highest (5% max).
fleur-de-lisa
(14,690 posts)Babel_17
(5,400 posts)Governor O'Malley got in it so as to offer both himself and his message. People might not be swarming to support him but that doesn't mean he needs to stay quiet. Opponents can drop out for a multitude of reasons, there was Tsongas, and there was Hart. O'Malley is acceptable to the party and could take the lead in a two person race.
Let things run their course. I say this as a Sanders supporter who would welcome his endorsement of Sanders.
If the writing is on the wall after this upcoming debate, and the next round of polling, then it's possible O'Malley will think about dropping out. Endorsements are another matter.
FSogol
(47,385 posts)pugetres
(507 posts)He's a good man with good ideas and the debates are better when he can share his ideas.
FSogol
(47,385 posts)4139
(2,001 posts)elleng
(139,717 posts)How about Bernie, hrc, and the electorate learn about Martin O'Malley's message, and his PLANS, many of which have already been adopted by Bernie and hrc without attribution, in spite of the fact the Dem ptb, and the msm, don't want anyone to know about him.
For everyone's information:
15 Goals to Rebuild the American Dream
https://martinomalley.com/category/15-goals/
Addiction treatment and prevention
https://martinomalley.com/policy/addiction-treatment-and-prevention/
Criminal Justice Reform
https://martinomalley.com/policy/criminal-justice/
Making College Debt Free for all Americans
https://martinomalley.com/policy/make-college-debt-free/
Holding Wall Street Accountable
https://14d2r744okfe40r1ug1oqm6y-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/OMalley-Wall-Street-Reform.pdf
Expanding Social Security
https://martinomalley.com/the-latest/expanding-social-security/
Homeland Security
https://martinomalley.com/vision/homeland-security/
Immigration
https://martinomalley.com/the-latest/immigration/
National Service
https://martinomalley.com/national-service/
Environment
https://martinomalley.com/climate/iowa/
https://martinomalley.com/climate/
https://martinomalley.com/climate/agenda/
Foreign Policy
https://martinomalley.com/policy/truman-national-security/
Gun Reform
https://martinomalley.com/policy/preventing-and-reducing-gun-violence/
Trade Policy
https://martinomalley.com/policy/trade-policy/
Campaign Finance Reform (Restoring our American Democracy)
https://martinomalley.com/the-latest/restoring-our-american-democracy/
Why We Need a Constitutional Amendment to Secure the Right to Vote:
https://martinomalley.com/the-latest/news/right-to-vote/
Veterans and Military Families
https://martinomalley.com/policy/veterans/
stone space
(6,498 posts)O'Malley needs to stay in the race and continue to push the other candidates to the left.
I want my candidate to come out unequivocally against corporate legal givaways to gun manufacturers.
O'Malley's voice on this issue is hugely important for that to happen.
I also appreaciate greatly his voice on immigration issues.
He needs to stay in the race, no matter what the outcome of my state's caucus is on Feb 1.
FSogol
(47,385 posts)
DavidDvorkin
(20,199 posts)At least not before any primaries are held. Let the people decide first.
DemocratSinceBirth
(101,007 posts)Peacetrain
(24,067 posts)HereSince1628
(36,063 posts)IA's system is already built to deal with low support; he'll have to prove viability to win any delegates in IA.
So in places where he doesn't reach viability his supporters have to make another choice.
It's his chance to run for what he believes. Let him run until he doesn't want to anymore.
restorefreedom
(12,655 posts)unless they want to. bernie's future does not ride on martin's choices, but rather his own campaigning and message. he has serious momentum now, and clinton is having big time trouble. lets get through some early states, and i am sure any candidate getting few votes at that point on either side has options to reassess.
martin brings an important progressive voice to this fight. the more people pounding the authentic progressive message the better, imo.
demwing
(16,916 posts)
zappaman
(20,621 posts)emulatorloo
(45,811 posts)He is his own man, and the decision is up to him.
Ferd Berfel
(3,687 posts)He's had his changes. He's a good man, deserves respect but....
He doesn't have a chance at this point
If he really wants to support a Progressive - Liberal Agenda, it's time to drop out and not embarrass himself in Iowa.
Leave with dignity
anigbrowl
(13,889 posts)Invoking the spectre of an objective external necessity is a manipulative propaganda tactic, but it needed to be said.
demwing
(16,916 posts)for himself and for his supporters. I think he should stay as long as he sees a path to whatever goal he's pursuing
As far as the debates go, I'm convinced that having another candidate on the stage - saying the same thing as Bernie - helps Bernie. The two of them in tandem, but not in cahoots, makes Hillary look old school and out of touch.
restorefreedom
(12,655 posts)also, to drop out before the first contest would be a huge disappointment to supporters. if one has to, then fine, but if he doesn't, no reason to disappoint people who are looking forward to voting for him.
JRLeft
(7,010 posts)drop out whenever he feels like it.
one_voice
(20,043 posts)What's best for your candidate isn't O'Malley's concern. What's best for the country is.
He's a good candidate, with outstanding policy ideas. He belongs in the this race. Too many have tried to make this Hillary v Bernie, they've done their damndest to push him out. Leave him be and let him be heard.
Go O'Malley!!!
RFKHumphreyObama
(15,164 posts)Even when Maryland went for Obama in the primaries, O'Malley still reiterated his commitment and support for the Clinton campaign..
There is nothing in O'Malley's record to suggest that he is hostile to the Clinton campaign or that he prefers Sanders over Clinton. in fact I'd argue the opposite, that O'Malley's politics and ideology are much closer to Clinton's than they are to Sanders
There's also no evidence that O'Malley's supporters would somehow magically flock over to Sanders if he withdrew. In fact I'd suggest that much of this support comes from Democratic voting blocs who aren't enthusiastic about Clinton but consider Sanders too far left to be a viable alternative. I suspect if he withdrew, most of them would go over to Clinton
O'Malley is not obligated to be at the beck and call of your favourite candidate. And if he does withdraw and his supporters are freed from their commitment to him, I suspect you might not like whom he endorses or where his supporters go
saltpoint
(50,986 posts)remain in the race as long as he can.
I like having our three true and intelligent public servants on our debate stage while the Republicans load their stage with psychofascists.
A very strong contrast may be made. Martin O'Malley has helped make it.
winter is coming
(11,785 posts)I wouldn't be surprised if he decides to drop out after a few primaries unless his numbers go up, but there's no need for him to do it now. Can't say I see much benefit accruing to Sanders, even if he did drop out, since O'Malley already tends to get the short end of the stick with respect to debate time.