What People Are Saying in Iowa About Martin O’Malley’s Debate Performance

Iowans Praise O’Malley as Winner of First Democratic Debate
 
Des Moines, IA -- Tonight, following the first Democratic Primary debate, Iowa leaders joined together to praise Governor Martin O’Malley’s  strong performance where he seized the national moment to win the debate.
 
Governor O'Malley did not just meet expectations for this first introduction, he surpassed them. The debate had several moments where Governor O'Malley boldly showcased his record of actions, and not words -- namely on the urgent need for gun safety measures and comprehensive immigration reform – and those moments resonated around Iowa.
 
Iowa State Representative Charlie McConkey:
“The American people want a President who will lead, not just tell them what they want to hear or take a position based on what polls best. The first Democratic debate provided a unique opportunity for Governor O’Malley to introduce himself to the American people – and he did so with great passion. O’Malley is the only candidate who can point to actions, not just words, and his performance in tonight’s debate proves he is the candidate who will be able to actually lead and get things done for our country.”
 
Iowa State Representative Dan Kelley:
“Tonight’s Democratic Primary debate finally kicks off election season for 2016 and the choice could not be clearer for Iowans: we need new leadership, with a record of achieving progressive results, to get wages to rise and rebuild the American Dream. We need Martin O’Malley. As someone who has worked to build our clean energy economy – it was evident that Governor O’Malley was the only candidate on the stage who will give us actions, not just words, on climate change. Tonight’s debate proved it: Martin O’Malley is the right choice for President.”
Jasper County Chair Taylor Van De Krol:
“This election provides an opportunity for our Democratic Party to unshackle itself from the past and look to new, executive leadership to address the challenges facing the country. What was evident in tonight’s debate: for new leadership, we need Governor Martin O’Malley. Martin O’Malley has led on the issues most pressing to people like me as a young Iowan, a recent college graduate, and the youngest Democratic County Chair in Iowa.”
 
Iowa Assistant Attorney General and former School Board Member Nathan Blake:
“Tonight, Martin O’Malley showed he is the best choice to be our Democratic nominee for President. O'Malley brings a fresh perspective based on his record of getting things done as a big-city Mayor and two-term Governor. He has demonstrated time and again that he follows his principles instead of looking to the polls – in particular, we’ve seen that when he stood up for New Americans in passing the DREAM Act and welcoming refugees from Central America and Syria. Governor Martin O’Malley is the new face of the Democratic Party and tonight he proved it. I’m proud to support Martin O’Malley for President.”
 
Wappello Democratic Party Chair and teacher Melinda Jones:
“As Governor, Martin O’Malley brought people together from both parties to achieve progressive results: repealing the death penalty, adopting marriage equality, raising the minimum wage, and investing in education to make Maryland public schools number one in the country for five years in a row. As a Democratic County Chair those kinds of values are exactly what I’m looking for, and as a teacher his record of achieving progressive results is exactly what I need.”
 
Dubuque County Recorder John Murphy:
“So much of what Martin O’Malley said in tonight’s debate resonates with me – but most importantly Martin O’Malley has an impressive record to back it all up. O’Malley has a record of executive leadership -- actions, not just words – that set him apart from the rest of the field. O’Malley has consistently put his progressive values into action: from eliminating the death penalty, to passing comprehensive gun safety legislation, to his work treating mental health issues – Governor O’Malley’s follow-through has always been really impressive, and that’s what we need in our next President.”