![O'MalleyAutographsBaseball](http://voiceofbaltimore.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/OMalleyAutographsBaseball-283x300.jpg)
Gov. Martin O’Malley autographs supporter’s baseball during his last reelection campaign. Will the Maryland governor be Hillary Clinton’s VP running mate in 2016? (VoB file photo/Alan Z. Forman)
RUNNING WITH HILLARY
COULD BE A GIANT LEAP
TOWARD WHITE HOUSE
This and other musings for this week’s ‘Inside Pitch’
By David Maril
While wondering if Gov. Martin O’Malley already has staffers working on his acceptance speech as Hillary Clinton’s vice presidential running-mate for 2016, it’s interesting to note the following:
It’s ironic that Clinton, who O’Malley supported over Barack Obama in the primaries for the 2008 election, is the biggest obstacle he will likely face for his upcoming run at the presidency.
Going into 2008, O’Malley, who is one of the most successful and calculating politicians in Maryland history, probably made a decision that he could gain more for his long-term presidential aspirations by backing Hillary over Obama. She went in slightly favored, she could serve her two terms and be out of the way, and he would have the gratitude and support of the powerful Clinton organization. He never dreamed Obama would win and he’d be dealing with Hillary in his path, two elections later.
No matter how many campaign speeches O’Malley makes around the country, or appearances on Sunday morning TV, Clinton, if she chooses to run, remains virtually impossible for him to defeat.
Even if the governor sets a record for most appearances on network-news talk shows the next few years, the former secretary of state, who turns 66 in October, is still a much bigger name on the national campaign trail. She is about to publish her fifth book and has an experienced, well-organized campaign staff.
Not to mention a husband who is arguably the most astute political strategist of our time.
Serving as her vice president, however, for a term or two, could work to O’Malley’s advantage. At age 50, he has plenty of time to reach the White House, and it wouldn’t hurt him to become the first Maryland governor to serve as vice president since Spiro Agnew.
He has, after all, been running for president since first becoming mayor of Baltimore in 1999.