America
Maryland ex-governor O'Malley enters US presidential race
Washington, May 30
Former Maryland governor
Martin O'Malley on Saturday announced his bid for the 2016 US
presidential race, in which he will first face tough challenge from
former secretary of state Hillary Clinton to win the Democratic
nomination.
"I declare that I am a candidate for president of the
US," O'Malley told a crowd of supporters at the Federal Hill Park in
Baltimore, where he served as mayor before becoming Maryland's governor
for 2007-2015, Xinhua reported.
"My decision is made. Now you
will all have a vital choice to make next year, for the good of your
families, and for the good of the country you love and carry in your
hearts," he said.
O'Malley, 52, joined Vermont Senator Bernie
Sanders and Hillary Clinton in the Democratic field to compete for the
party nomination next year.
Clinton is being regarded as the frontrunner, but O'Malley said Democrats deserve a choice in the 2016 primary.
In
a veiled attack at Clinton, O'Malley said the US presidency "is not a
crown to be passed back and forth ... between two royal families",
referring to the Clinton and Bush families.
Hillary Clinton's husband Bill Clinton occupied the White House for two terms during 1993-2001.
Former
Florida governor Jeb Bush, brother of former president George W. Bush
(2001-2009) and son of former president George H.W. Bush (1989-1993), is
expected to soon announce his bid for the 2016 Republican nomination.
Jeb
Bush is regarded as the top contender among an already crowded
Republican field, which currently includes eight candidates after former
New York governor George Pataki announced on Thursday his run for the
2016 race.