Martin O’Malley, we hardly knew ye

Many moments in the nine-month ride that was former Maryland governor Martin O'Malley's (D) run for the White House were memorable but perhaps something less than auspicious.

It was a campaign filled with music and pathos and, in that sense, it requires a brief elegy.

Yes, reasonable arguments can be made that O'Malley was a victim of bad timing. He was an insider, a part of the Democratic Party establishment in a year in which voters across the political spectrum really haven't shown a preference for that sort of resume. And during his meteoric rise from the halls of Baltimore City Hall to the governor's office in Annapolis, O'Malley established himself as both tough on crime and an advocate of a particularly aggressive form of policing sometimes described as zero-tolerance. Its critics, of course, say that zero tolerance and that politicians like O'Malley who embraced it are at least partially responsible for the nation's mass incarceration problem and deeply damaged relationships between police and some of the communities they serve.

The ramifications of both have become fixtures of national news in recent years. And, during his years in Maryland, O'Malley became the kind of Democrat strong and staunchly and utterly in favor of strong gun control. But 2015 was a year of many, many mass shootings and a time when the debate about the best way to reduce the frequency of these events did not seem to settle firmly in the camp of increased gun control.

And, while we will not dispute that any of that mattered or mattered a great deal, we also have to say that O'Malley's campaign had other problems — problems of the awkward and unforced kind. Let's review just a few highlights, shall we?

• As early as October, there were reports of O'Malley becoming that guywe all sort of know who shows up at the party with a guitar and basically subjects others to a forcible serenade. O'Malley and his campaign kept describing this sort of thing as a kind of treat for supporters. Perhaps O'Malley and his campaign staff understood a little more clearly Monday night how people really feel about guys with acoustic guitars and day jobs.
• Back in June, The Fix pointed out that O'Malley, on the campaign trail, had been photographed one too many times shirtless — or sleeveless with guns on display. It seemed that O'Malley had some sort of compulsion to show America what he was working with. That's a choice. But not, apparently, one that helped his campaign.
• In December, O'Malley quite literally had the "opportunity" to make a one-on-one pitch to a voter, when just one man showed up for a campaign event in Tama, Iowa. In fairness to O'Malley, the event did take place in or just around the time that a snow storm arrived. Still, if anyone knows how to handle a snowy drive, it would seem to be Iowa voters. Worse, even after that man-to-man chat, the voter would not commit to come out and caucus for O'Malley, the candidate told MSNBC.
• Also in December, O'Malley paid a visit to the University of Texas at Austin and allowed a pair of students to goad him into rapping about his campaign. Enough said. You may watch the video for yourself, or spare yourself the embarrassment. Choose your own adventure.
• Also in December, O'Malley paid a visit to the University of Texas at Austin and allowed a pair of students to goad him into rapping about his campaign. Enough said. You may watch the video for yourself, or spare yourself the embarrassment. Choose your own adventure.