Is it time for O Malley to call it quits?

[daybranch]

I do not dislike the guy but he like Trump is sucking up time that could be better used to debate issues by what are seen by almost everyone as the most viable candidates. He gets less than a third , maybe 15 to 20m percent of air time but that is 4 or 5 times the percentasge of supporters he has. With Hillary getting the lion share and O Malley getting far more exposure than his percentage of voters warrant, is it not time for Him to pull out and let Bernie and Hillary duke it out.

[brooklynite]

1. Get your peanuts! Get your popcorn!

[MohRokTah]

2. Who? eom

[cali]

3. No. He's clearly passionate about it.

[leftofcool]

4. No!

[zappaman]

5. No. n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. He needs to stay in, I think,

and keep poking at Hillary. His chances of getting the nomination are virtually zero, but I think he adds some valuable ideas.

[Juicy_Bellows]

7. I think he can stay as long as he wishes.

Let him get a few primaries in before we ask him to step aside.

It's a long game and it hasn't really started yet.

[elleng]

8. If only he WERE sucking up time!

You are very far from correct, in saying he gets 'maybe 15 to 20m percent of air time,' he gets virtually NO air time.

And if he did, you might recognize that he SHOULD be UP FRONT.

[RKP5637]

9. I hope he stays in. I like the mix rather than just two duking it out. n/t

[geek tragedy]

10. He can drop out after Iowa nt

[NuclearDem]

11. No.

Maybe instead of trying to convince Trump supporters, focus on convincing O'Malley supporters to switch to Sanders.

[morningfog]

20. All ten of them!

[NuclearDem]

25. Yeah, it's a bit more than ten.

[morningfog]

40. It is. But what could he say to reach them that he hasn't said?

There is a larger pool from Trump's supporters. And if what Sanders says hasn't pulled MOM folks, what could?

[one_voice]

37. I guess Sander supporters are like this to all candidate's supporters.

[morningfog]

39. It's just a stupid Post, nothing against O'Malley.

I like him a lot.

[floriduck]

29. I expect O'Malley to

flip to Hillary simply because he'll want a piece of the Clinton action. I've lost tons of respect for him based on his debate attacks and lie about Bernie not wanting to debate.

[tritsofme]

12. From a purely tactical perspective, I'm happy to have him in the race, and deny Sanders the 1-on-1

match-up with Clinton that he wants and needs.

[HereSince1628]

13. It's really his choice. He deserves us to respect that at the least.

[Motown_Johnny]

14. Maybe after New Hampshire.

I think this is a trial run for 2024. If so, it is in his best interest to get through the first two states and, assuming he does not do better than his polling numbers in them, to then drop out.


He could then get more air time than he does now by being interviewed during the rest of the primary season.


It isn't time yet, but it is getting close.

[bigwillq]

15. No

I like him. I hope he stays in the race. Let the people decide.

[riversedge]

16. Oh but the voters just do not know him yet. He needs the airtime and the debates.

[brooklynite]

41. Now, where have I heard that before?

Don't tell me.....

[riversedge]

44. I just couldn't resist tossing that one out.

[BlueMTexpat]

17. No.

He's stayed in this long. He should continue at least through Iowa and New Hampshire.

He has an excellent ground game in Iowa and there may be some good news there for him considering the kinds of people who generally turn out for caucuses. New Hampshire will be a harder sell, but if he does well in IA, he may get some momentum going.

But it should be his decision, not DU's.

[guillaumeb]

18. O'Malley presents very serious policy statements. I realize that

this presents a problem for O'Malley with a corporate media that specializes in sound bite coverage, but there surely is room in national discourse for rationality rather than positioning and posturing. I see O'Malley as a very viable candidate. Perhaps not in 2016, but if he keeps working and talking he could be a great President.

[Koinos]

19. No.

He adds to the conversation.

ETA: And anything is possible for a campaigner like O'Malley in Iowa.

[MeNMyVolt]

21. WTH? No.

If IA doesn't come in well for him then maybe. You know, he does have supporters on this board, and in IA.

[Hiraeth]

22. No. I want to hear more from him. I am okay with his air time.

[farleftlib]

23. No way

We need to hear more liberals voices, not fewer. He isn't getting the air time he deserves but quitting is not the answer.

[Historic NY]

24. I saw this on the news...yeah ok the weather sucked...

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/one-voter-shows-martin-omalley-event-remains-uncommitted

[MoonRiver]

26. No. Why should he?

[Agschmid]

27. No. n/t

[NCTraveler]

28. Not with the ground game he has built in Iowa.

I think he is still garnering interest. The more O'Malley talks, the better for the party. Isn't he as close to Sanders as Sanders is to Clinton in many polls?

[StevieM]

32. I guess that may be the case nationally, in some polls, but in Iowa and New Hampshire

he seems to be way back.

I think he should stay in the race until he decides the time is right to end his campaign.

I am supporting Hillary, but I like O'Malley too.

[TheBlackAdder]

30. He, like most on the Right, seem to be holding out for their Federal Matching Campaign Funds. nt

[StevieM]

33. Could you explain that to me? How long do these candidates need to stay in the race in order

to qualify for matching funds?

What is the earliest date they can drop out at if this is their goal?

[TheBlackAdder]

36. Payments are made in January of the election year, and in subsequent months thereafter.

.



Once they get their first payment, which will be the largest one, they can retire their campaign in good standing.

It's justifiable to collect a check when the campaign is active, instead of attempting collection on a campaign that is ineligible or closed out. So keeping the campaign active as long as possible increases the taxpayer largesse they will receive, but it will also allow the disbural of funds received better, while taking money on a live campaign.

Partial public funding is available to Presidential primary candidates in the form of federal matching payments. Candidates seeking their party's nomination to the Presidency can qualify to receive matching funds by raising over $5,000 in each of 20 states (i.e., over $100,000). Only contributions from individuals apply toward this threshold. Although an individual may contribute up to $1,000 to a candidate, only a maximum of $250 counts toward the threshold and is matchable.1

.
.

Candidates may present documentation to establish their eligibility for matching funds and submit matchable contributions during the year before the election is held. The first payments, however, are not made until January of the election year. From that point forward, candidates may submit additional matching fund requests and receive payments on a monthly basis. Even if a candidate is no longer actively campaigning in primary elections, he or she may continue to request matching funds to pay off campaign debts and to wind down the campaign until early in the year following the election.

.
.

Once declared eligible for matching funds, a candidate may continue to receive payments until his or her date of ineligibility. Thereafter, a candidate may receive additional funds only to pay off campaign debts and to wind down the campaign.

Under the statute and Commission regulations, primary candidates become ineligible to receive matching funds on the earliest of the following dates:

* 30 days after the candidate fails to receive 10 percent of the votes cast in two consecutive primary elections (unless the candidate receives 20 percent or more of the vote in a subsequent primary);
* The date the candidate publicly withdraws from the race;
* The date on which the candidate notifies the Commission, or the Commission determines, that the candidate has ceased to campaign actively in more than one state;37 or
* The date on which the party nominates its candidate at the national convention

http://www.fec.gov/info/chone.htm

[StevieM]

42. It sounds to me like a candidate is still eligible for matching funds if they suspend their campaign

As long as they don't formally end their candidacy they are still allowed to raise money. And if I am reading this right it says that candidates who are no longer campaigning, like someone whose campaign is suspended, can still collect matching funds.

[Le Taz Hot]

31. He's just taking up space.

He's not interested in the presidency. He's auditioning for V.P. My guess is most of his voters will go to Hillary.

[LWolf]

34. I don't have an opinion on this one way or another.

I'll leave that up to him, to his campaign, and to his supporters.

[demwing]

35. Yesterday I would have given an enthusiastic NO!

But his recent back and forth with Howard Dean, and their claim that Bernie declined to fight for more debates, has drained that enthusiasm. I still like his ideas, but I no longer trust the guy.

[bigtree]

47. weird

...two seconds in an interview and you're complaining about trust. THIS is the issue that makes or breaks it for you?

How utterly droll.

[one_voice]

38. Maybe if the media wasn't so intent on..

seeing a Sanders vs Clinton battle royal O'Malley would have done/would be doing better. But that's who they wanted to focus on so he got no time.

He's free to stay in as long as he chooses and I will support him as long as he does.

[lunamagica]

43. No. eom

[FSogol]

45. Looks like your hit and run post didn't go the way you wanted.

[bigtree]

46. I remember when Sanders supporters were complaining about a coronation

...now some want to make the primary a Bernie and Hillary show. Our primary is about more than putting a crown on one of these pols. It's an opportunity to elevate issues and concerns to a national level of debate and discussion.

I hope O'Malley stays in, if only to provide the only influence from outside of D.C. in this campaign.