What People Are Saying About Martin O’Malley’s Impact On The Race
“Still Has A Strong Future In The Democratic Party This Cycle” ... “Had Substantive Policy Proposals” ... “ Push[ed] The Rest Of The Democratic Candidates On #Immigration” ... “Most Detailed Policy Platform Of Any Candidate On Either Side” … “Forced HRC To Engage [&] Sanders 2 Play Catchup” … “Opened Up The Convo On Guns, Trans Rights” ... “Voice Was Needed”... “Put It All On The Field” … “Good Retail Politician” … “Made Himself Available To Media” … “Really Impressed With Martin O’Malley...Bright Future”... “[Ran] An Issues-Based Campaign That Was Heavy On Retail Politics In Iowa And New Hampshire”... “Democratic Party Will Continue To Rely On His Experience And Talent”... “Campaigned With Heart”
Fusion Headline: The Democrats Just Lost The Most Progressive Candidate In History On Immigration
New Republic: “[O’Malley] did have an outsized impact in a few of these areas. His proposals on immigration, gun violence, and climate change received strong favorable reviews from liberal activists. Playing up his experience as a former mayor, he put forward the most comprehensive and creative plan by far for revitalizing cities. His policies often went into detail, while Clinton’s have not.”
Baltimore Sun: “[O’Malley] oversaw an issues-based campaign that was heavy on retail politics in Iowa and New Hampshire; he spent more time in Iowa last year than either Clinton or Sanders. Even his some of his critics have given him credit for the disciplined campaign.
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“The former Maryland governor influenced the race in other ways, as well. He was the first candidate to call on the U.S. to accept more refugees from Syria, for instance — an idea that was later adopted by Clinton. And his campaign released detailed policy memos on immigration, Wall Street reform and gun control before any of the other candidates.”
Fusion: “When Martin O’Malley was governor of Maryland, his state led the country in taking in unaccompanied minors who presented themselves at the U.S. border. He had a record of doing what the two other Democratic presidential candidates were still proposing.
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“He was the first candidate to propose closing immigrant detention facilities. He was also the first to declare his displeasure when U.S. immigration officials launched raids to detain parents and their children who were fleeing violence in Central America.
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“The Democrats lost the most progressive presidential candidate in history on immigration.
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“The former Maryland governor’s proposals were so immigrant-friendly that he developed a strong following among the people he called new Americans, or undocumented immigrants—who couldn’t vote for him.
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“Seasoned immigration activists also endorsed O’Malley’s presidential campaign.
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“As governor, O’Malley implemented laws that included those new Americans. Maryland was the first state to offer undocumented immigrants in-state tuition at public universities. O’Malley also pushed for and signed legislation extending driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants.”
Des Moines Register: “The former Maryland governor spent more time in Iowa than either of his rivals during the 2016 election season.
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“O'Malley's wife, Katie, and their four children stood by him onstage Monday night at Wooly's, a music venue in the East Village, for the announcement. More than 100 supporters stood in front of the stage cheering as he repeated lines from the campaign trail.
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“O'Malley campaigned aggressively on immigration reform, gun control and climate change, and he became a critical player in recent days.
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“But O'Malley had implored supporters at recent campaign stops across the state to ‘hold strong,’ urging them to recruit friends and neighbors to keep his campaign alive. An acoustic guitar became a campaign staple for the former governor, and he routinely led sing-alongs of ‘This Land is Your Land’ or other tunes.
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“On Monday night, he visited a Democratic precinct filled with students at Drake University. Supporters erupted in applause when it was announced he would make a visit.”
Washington Post: “Even as his prospects appeared dim, O’Malley remained a happy warrior on the campaign trail. Ever since his days a Baltimore City Council member, he has had a side career as a musician, fronting a Celtic rock band called O’Malley’s March. At the end of his campaign events, he would frequently play a song for his audiences on a borrowed guitar.”
Debbie Wasserman-Schultz: “[O’Malley] campaigned with heart and with a singular focus on building a better future for American families … The Democratic Party is stronger for O'Malley's leadership and is excited to work with him in the months ahead … Although he is suspending his campaign, I know the Democratic Party will continue to rely on his experience and talents in our unified fight for a better future."
Associated Press: “A veteran of Colorado Sen. Gary Hart’s presidential campaigns in the 1980s, O’Malley sought to portray himself as a fresh face for a party searching for new ideas. He launched some of the toughest critiques of the race, accusing Clinton of being on ‘three sides’ of the gun control debate and offering ‘weak tea’ when it came to policing Wall Street.”
Jose Antonio Vargas @joseiswriting: Thank you @MartinOMalley for pushing the rest of the Democratic candidates on #immigration #IowaCaucus
E McMorris-Santoro @EvanMcSan: Sources close to O'Malley note his commitment to gun safety, immigration and climate. He was praised by activists for his detailed plans.
Sahil Kapur @sahilkapur: O'Malley had the most detailed policy platform of any candidate on either side. Too bad for him voters don't much value that sort of thing.
Adrian Carrasquillo @Carrasquillo: Campaign had trouble resonating but praised on immigration by activists. Forced HRC to engage Sanders 2 play catchup
Josh Stickney @joshstickney: Honestly, thank you, @MartinOMalley for being in this race. You've opened up the convo on guns, trans rights etc. twitter.com/EvanMcSan/stat…
Hunter Walker @hunterw: I had a lot of respect for Martin O'Malley. He made himself available to media and had substantive policy proposals.
FWD.us @FWD_us: Thank you @MartinOMalley for fighting everyday to fix our broken #immigration system. pic.twitter.com/LEjbiCFwfa
Kira Lerner @kira_lerner: He pushed policies to the left on both climate change and immigration twitter.com/thinkprogress/…
Marielena Hincapié @MarielenaNILCL: Hope @MartinOMalley will help inform other candidates' #immigration platforms. TY for most inclusive #immigration vision, incl #healthcare
Julio Ricardo Varela @julito77: Got to meet @MartinOMalley twice this cycle & interview him 3 times. His entire staff was class. Reality hit them tonight. But good people.
Askew @lapared: Thank you @MartinOMalley for pushing @HillaryClinton & @BernieSanders to be better on immigration,climate, gun control.Your voice was needed
Richard Grenell @RichardGrenell:. @MartinOMalley was the first Democrat to call out Trump and the DNC for too few debates.
Pamela Chomba @PamelaChomba: Big thanks to @MartinOMalley and his team putting it all on the field for #immigrants cc @GabiDomenzain twitter.com/fwd_us/status/…
Jessica M. Coggins @JessicaMCoggins: Really was impressed with the @MartinOMalley campaign -- still has a strong future in the Democratic party this cycle
Adrian Carrasquillo @Carrasquillo: Campaign had trouble resonating but praised on immigration by activists. Forced HRC to engage Sanders 2 play catchup twitter.com/EvanMcSan/stat…
Chad Griffin @ChadHGriffin: Congratulate @MartinOMalley on running a campaign with integrity and heart. Grateful for all he has done to advance equality.
Mark Preston @PrestonCNN: I spent several days with @MartinOMalley last year on trail - he was a good retail politician, just couldn't get traction.
Jeff Santos Show @JeffSantosShow: Governor O'Malley deserves a lot of credit for his proposals and his positive contribution to the US on infrastructure and urban issues. JS
Karly @princesskarly11: Makes me sad to hear @MartinOMalley suspended his presidential campaign. You always remembered the immigrants. Thank you. Hope you -
