Martin O'Malley debating

[elleng]

jindal (sorry!) Discussion elsewhere, so I thought I'd remind us.

(Sorry about grinch + perry.)

[Raine1967]

1. I think he's a VERY good debater.

Don't let those polls worry you this far out!

and the following is not a slam against potential candidate Jim Webb (I am still not sure he will run) but he was a republican, a serious republican for most of his life. HE served under the Reagan Administration as Secretary of the Navy and Assistant secretary of Defense. He has a fine military record, I won't detract from that, bur makes no question, he was a staunch republican.

Now he is what I would call a Reagan Democrat. I am of the opinion that he is polling the way he is as he is attracting Reagan Dems, however few there might be. That polling is from the most conservative portion of the Democratic party.

He will not go far in the primary process running alongside O'malley, Clinton and Sanders.

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2014/11/jim-webb-hillary-clinton-exploratory-committee

Webb has at least a few bumps to smooth over, though. He defended the Confederate flag and "the venerable Robert E. Lee" in his book Born Fighting, about the Scots-Irish, and in 1979, he wrote an essay for Washingtonian titled "Why Women Can't Fight"—a spirited case against admitting women into service academies. As a senator from a major coal-producing state, he opposed proposals to combat climate change. And only last month expressed his support for same-sex marriage. Beating an entrenched Republican in Virginia as a centrist in 2006 is one thing—but winning a Democratic presidential nomination requires winning Democratic primary voters.

And while I can only rely on the footnotes from books referenced in this wiki page, there is this:https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Jim_Webb

In 1994 he endorsed incumbent Democrat Charles Robb for reelection to his Senate seat, over Webb's former Naval Academy classmate Oliver North; like Webb, both Robb and North were decorated Marine veterans of the Vietnam war. Webb subsequently endorsed Republican George Allen over Robb in 2000, and then ran against Allen himself in 2006.

He's a very very conservative Dem. And in Virginia that is more a rule than the exception — I think Tim Kaine is doing a fine job overall and I like him much better than I did Jim Webb.

As a side note, I know someone that lives in his neighborhood, they have ears to the ground and will give me more information if she finds out if he is indeed running.

[elleng]

2. Haven't seen anything actually showing Webb is running,

so 'shocked' to see him 2 points ahead of O'Malley in a recent poll. (Pissed me off, actually.)

P.S. Just x-posted MOM Climate article from Salon in 'Environment.' FS posted it here.

[Raine1967]

3. It pissed me off too.

That the media is including him in the polls is more proof that they want a different race than the one we currently have.

He did form an exploratory committee, but I am not convinced he will run. having said that, I try to do opposition research. that's how I roll, sister!

[elleng]

4. You roll GOOD, sister!

[askew]

5. O'Malley just can't get any coverage.

Liberal media is going ga-ga over Hillary's shift to the left and Sanders surge. Even when O'Malley is the first one out the gate with a proposal, they cover Hillary echoing his points instead of O'Malley.

He's the only one to rollout a tough climate change platform and the media just shrugs.

Incredibly frustrating. I think he is going to have to start airing ads early in Iowa, NH, NV and SC to bump up his name recognition.

I am a little frustrated that he is not spending more time in the 4 early states though. By this time, Obama, Edwards, and Richardson were practically living in those states. Since O'Malley doesn't have a day job, I don't know what he's doing.

[Raine1967]

12. He is looking for volunteers in IA, NH and SC.

[FSogol]

9. I don't believe any poll at this point and certainly can't believe Webb being ahead of O'Malley. n/t

[FSogol]

8. I didn't think Webb would run, but if you check the number of events he has scheduled

in Iowa, running is the only explanation. IIRC, he said he would decide by the end of July.

While Webb seems like a standard Conservative Democrat, he isn't really the kind of person that fits neatly into any category. He is very liberal on some issues and took an anti-Iraq war stance early on. His main issue is prison reform.

I too prefer Kaine, although he'll get some heat for his support of Obama and the TPP.

[Raine1967]

11. HE got a few phone calls from me that is for sure.

Our new representative, Don Beyer has acted exactly as I expected: with deep disappointment.

I have a feeling he will be primaried for his second term.

[FSogol]

13. I'm in the same boat with Gerry Connolly. I know him on a personal level and he's

a solid Democratic vote. I chalk it up to: I won't agree with anyone 100% of time. Even with his support of the trade agreement, I won't try to kick him out over one vote since we agree on so many other issues.

[askew]

6. Anyone know how O'Malley did in his governor debates?

He's only going to get 1 serious chance to make a name for himself and it will be in the debates. He's going to have to clean Hillary's clock to stand a chance. I think Chafee is going to be going after Hillary hard on Iraq so O'Malley will have some help.

[elleng]

7. Here it is, 2006:

http://www.c-span.org/video/?194890-1/maryland-gubernatorial-debate

[askew]

10. Thanks! I'll have to watch later.