O'Malley campaign presses forward after first debate.NH U.Leader

Martin O’Malley’s presidential campaign says it is building momentum as voters start to tune into the race.

O’Malley, who is vying for attention against the likes of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders in the fight for the Democratic Party nomination, sees an opening following the first televised debate Oct. 13.

O’Malley aims to make inroads after Jim Webb and Lincoln Chafee ended their campaigns and with Vice President Joe Biden opting not to run.

“This race has really just begun,” said Dave Hamrick, O’Malley’s campaign manager, in a call with reporters Monday. “The field has crystallized and now voters are just starting to tune in and start to think about who they want to support in this race.”

Hamrick said O’Malley, a former Maryland governor and Baltimore mayor, is the only Democrat running who has a consistent progressive track record and the backbone to stand up against special interests.

Former state Sen. Peter Burling, a New Hampshire co-chairman for the campaign, said O’Malley’s record shows he would fight for gun control and stand up to the National Rifle Association.

All three Democrats are discussing proposed gun sale restrictions, while Republican hopefuls are promising to protect Second Amendment rights.

John Bivona, New Hampshire state director for O’Malley, said O’Malley is seeing larger audiences in the Granite State.

“Governor O’Malley is campaigning the New Hampshire way,” he said. He said O’Malley has campaigned more than other Democratic candidates.

O’Malley is scheduled to return to New Hampshire next week. On Nov. 3, he is scheduled to speak to the “First in the Nation Candidate Series” hosted by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce at the law firm of Devine Millimet at 111 Amherst St. O’Malley that day also has a town hall meeting at the University of New Hampshire in Durham at 1 p.m. and a similar event in Keene at 6:30 p.m.

http://www.unionleader.com/article/20151027/NEWS0605/151029232