Could Martin O'Malley Speak At DNC This Summer?
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Could former governor and presidential candidate Martin O'Malley take the stage at the Democratic National Convention this summer? O'Malley's name comes up in continuing speculation about replacing the Democratic national party chair.
Political reporter Pat Warren has more on the possibility.
It's the first mention of O'Malley's name in a national political setting since he ran for president.
For the first time since elected to city council 25 years ago, former Maryland governor Martin O'Malley---former mayor of Baltimore and former presidential candidate---is out of office.
Supporters aren't ready to let him go. His name has popped up as a possible replacement for chair of the Democratic National Committee. Longtime backer John Coale---who is married to Fox TV host Greta van Sustern---Tweets "Martin O'Malley 4 DNC Chair" and it's been retweeted by a party strategist.
According to political analyst Richard Vatz, O'Malley would be a good choice.
"One of the reasons I think Governor O'Malley would be very good for this position is that he is politically right between Hillary and Bernie," Vatz said.
The Sanders campaign accused DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Shultz of playing favorites.
"Do I think she is the kind of chair that the Democratic party needs? No, I don't," Sanders said.
There's a lot of handwringing over finding party unity when Hillary and Bernie supporters go head-to-head at the Democratic National Convention.
"I think enough party regulars have argued for a change and I think Martin O'Malley would probably fill the bill," Vatz said.
An O'Malley spokesman says, "O'Malley is a lifelong Democrat who believes passionately in the most inclusive values of the Democratic party" but he has no comment on the latest speculation around the DNC.
O'Malley himself feuded with Wasserman Shultz over the decision to limit the number of presidential debates to four, a complaint echoed by Bernie Sanders.
The Democratic National Convention is July 25-28 in Philadelphia.