Martin O’Malley Meets With, Recruits, And Is Accosted By Twentysomethings.

[elleng]

O’Malley was there on Tuesday night, at a packed bar near the D.C. Convention Center, to meet with — and fundraise off — young Washington professionals. . .

He also showcased the endurance and patience that have defined his underdog presidential campaign so far.

Befitting a crowd in the nation’s capital, attendees were wary of talking with a reporter, even when asked questions like “Why do you like Martin O’Malley?”

“What’s not to like?” one attendee said before scurrying off.

O’Malley staffers were elated by the event. And there was a lot to be proud of: More than 300 packed the bar, an event organizer and O’Malley staffer told supporters. More than $40,000 was raised, a serious sum for a candidate whose fundraising has lagged behind both of his Democratic opponents.

For the most part, the execution was flawless. O’Malley was introduced by his teenage son, William, who gave a practiced and easy rendition of his dad’s stump speech, hitting on his father’s plans to make college debt-free among other Millennial-friendly proposals. Eric Swalwell, the young California congressman who endorsed O’Malley last week mingled around in the background, tieless and sporting his House of Representatives lapel pin.

When O’Malley took the stage he belted out a loud, succinct version of his stump speech followed by a request that the gathered young professionals follow up their donations with a commitment to take a month off in January to come to Iowa and support his caucus operations. . .

Neither Byrd’s move, nor Gutin’s, phased the candidate or the campaign staff. In his brief stump speech, O’Malley highlighted his environmental proposals that have already drawn praise from activists, the college plan that mirrors the one pushed by liberal groups like the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and promised to be the the first Democratic candidate to offer a comprehensive “justice agenda for the U.S.,” a move aimed at distancing him from his tough-on-crime past and getting things right with #BlackLivesMatter activists, who are still upset with O’Malley after his performance at Netroots.

O’Malley’s team expect to take a lot more questions as things go on. They say their candidate can talk his way out of the skepticism and criticism looming over his candidacy like a stormcloud.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/evanmcsan/martin-omalley-meets-with-recruits-and-is-accosted-by-twenty#.scbrM3DW7