February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley is the vocalist covering the Saw Doctors song, “Wisdom of Youth” on his band’s latest album entitled “Galway Races.”
Released last Spring, many thought it remarkable that O’Malley found the time to record a fifth CD with his band O’Malley’s March and govern the state of Maryland at the same time.
Well, seemingly he can. And to this very busy plate can now be added the task for running for re-election.
In fairness, O’Malley was in the studio, aka the basement in the home of the band’s drummer recording this and other tracks before the economy flattened and then plummeted forcing the first term Democrat to lay off state workers and slash the Maryland budget to the bone.
Elected in 2006 while the economy still was strong and property values generated a vast cash flow to the state coffers, the
then new governor seemed to be living up to the hype generated by being recognized early in his career by “Time” and “Esquire”
magazines as one young politco to watch.
O’Malley’s popularity has slightly dipped as he has overseen the paring down of programs amid the emergence of a $700 million budget deficit.
And popularity is becoming something to ponder a little more each day in the governor’s Annapolis office. Though it seems hard to believe it’s indeed now that time again: O’Malley is tuning up his re-election campaign for 2010.
Despite the rather inhospitable political and economic climate, no Republican has stepped forward as an opposition candidate yet.
O’Malley and his running mate, Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, are moving forward to infuse their campaign with cash as the political clock, as is its wont, starts to run that little bit faster.
In Maryland, statewide officials cannot conduct fundraising while the state legislature is in session. The next legislative session starts in January. So now, even though we are in the dog days of high summer, it’s a time to forsake that basement of the drummer.
One who will be working with O’Malley to pave the way to second term is Stella O’Leary who heads the Irish American Democrats just down the road in Washington, D.C.
“Of course,” was O’Leary’s immediate response when asked if her group would be backing O’Malley’s gubernatorial campaign.
As such, it is to be expected that the Irish American Democrats will hold an O’Malley fundraiser at some stage.
There’s no word on whether the governor and his band will supply the entertainment at the gathering.