O’Malley: “Clinton will ultimately prevail”

Gov. O'Malley & Sen. Clinton: On May 10, 2007No Plans For Early States Yet

Gov. Martin O’Malley isn’t worrying about Sen. Hillary Clinton’s declining poll numbers in the early nominating states.

Or at least, he hasn’t had the time to.

Speaking with PolitickerMD.com at the conclusion of a fundraiser held Monday night in support of congressional candidate Frank Kratovil, the governor re-iterated his support for Sen. Clinton in the 2008 Democratic presidential race and explained his plans – or lack thereof – to stump for her in the pivotal contests of Iowa and New Hampshire.

“I kind of missed my opportunity in Iowa because of the special session,” O’Malley said. “Hopefully I can go up and help her in New Hampshire.”

The governor said he had recently contacted the Clinton campaign about making an appearance in Iowa, but timing restrictions made it too difficult, particularly with the holiday season approaching.

The Iowa caucuses will be held Jan. 3, two weeks from Thursday. The New Hampshire primary is a mere 5 days later.

O’Malley said his lieutenant governor, Anthony G. Brown, has gone to Iowa several times in support of Clinton’s presidential bid. The governor said he hoped Brown would serve as his “surrogate” in Iowa.

“Lieutenant Governor Brown was out in Iowa a lot,” O’Malley said.

O’Malley said the opportunity to assist Clinton in New Hampshire would likely arise. He also said he was considering campaigning for the senator in several early primaries, though he did not refer to a specific state.

In addition, the governor expressed his belief that Clinton “would ultimately prevail.” He said the senator had been “tested,” and that she was the “most prepared” candidate for the job.

O’Malley also said that his personal experience in Iowa taught him that most caucus-goers don’t fully make up their minds about who they are going to support until one week before the election.

The governor was a lead student-volunteer on Gary Hart’s 1984 presidential campaign, helping the Colorado Democrat with phone-banking and organizational planning in Iowa and other states