Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, who says he will make a decision on a presidential bid this spring, appeared to further distance himself from rival Hillary Clinton Sunday, saying the White House “is not some crown to be passed between two families.”
“The presidency of the United States is not some crown to be passed between two families,” O’Malley said on ABC’s “This Week.” “It is an awesome and sacred trust to be earned and exercised on behalf of the American people.”
The former governor wouldn’t identify the two families to which he was referring. But the leading Democratic contender for 2016 is the former secretary of state and first lady, and the equally crowded Republican field includes former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who is the son and brother of presidents.
O’Malley headed Clinton’s presidential run in Maryland in 2007.
“For those times, I believe she would have been the best leader for our country,” O’Malley said. “I believe what people want is someone with proven executive experience and the ability to get things done.”
He listed several progressive laws he pushed forward during his tenure as governor, including legalizing gay marriage, tougher gun restrictions and extended privileges to illegal immigrants. Those same laws are under fire by his Republican replacement, Gov. Larry Hogan, who beat O’Malley’s lieutenant governor, Anthony Brown, last November.
“It’s not about being for or against any other candidate. It’s about being for the national interests,” O’Malley said. “We need a president who is willing to take on powerful wealthy special interests. Right now, it’s not even a fair fight. It’s as if Wall Street owns one part and is trying to intimidate the other.”
This story originally published at 10:48 a.m. and has been updated since then.
