This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/may/30/martin-omalley-overcome-the-curse-of-maryland-white-house

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Can Martin O'Malley overcome Maryland's White House curse? Can Martin O'Malley overcome Maryland's White House curse?
(about 1 hour later)
Related: Martin O'Malley intends to win even if the odds are stacked against himRelated: Martin O'Malley intends to win even if the odds are stacked against him
In his bid for the White House, Martin O’Malley faces an obstacle even more formidable than Hillary Clinton’s political machine and a shortcoming that is far more fatal than his anemic poll numbers: the curse of Maryland.In his bid for the White House, Martin O’Malley faces an obstacle even more formidable than Hillary Clinton’s political machine and a shortcoming that is far more fatal than his anemic poll numbers: the curse of Maryland.
Only three of the original 13 colonies have not produced a president: Delaware, Rhode Island and O’Malley’s home state. But while the first two states have had their political ambitions scuppered because of their miniscule size – both states combined could fit comfortably inside the borders of Los Angeles – Maryland has always been a perfectly average-sized state. Ranked sixth out of 13 in population in 1790, it’s now 19th out of 50.Only three of the original 13 colonies have not produced a president: Delaware, Rhode Island and O’Malley’s home state. But while the first two states have had their political ambitions scuppered because of their miniscule size – both states combined could fit comfortably inside the borders of Los Angeles – Maryland has always been a perfectly average-sized state. Ranked sixth out of 13 in population in 1790, it’s now 19th out of 50.
Yet, it just hasn’t come to close to producing a president.Yet, it just hasn’t come to close to producing a president.
The closest a Marylander has ever come to the White House electorally was former attorney general William Wirt, in 1832. As a candidate of the Anti-Masonic Party he won the state of Vermont, which then had seven electoral votes. He is still the only Maryland native to have been nominated by any political party for the presidency. He also was the only person ever nominated by the Anti-Masons, a single issue political party that soon folded into the Whigs. The Marylander who came the closest to the White House electorally was former attorney general William Wirt, in 1832. As a candidate of the Anti-Masonic Party, he won the state of Vermont, which then had seven electoral votes. He is still the only Maryland native to have been nominated by any political party for the presidency. He also was the only person ever nominated by the Anti-Masons, a single issue political party that soon folded into the Whigs.
The long-forgotten candidate last made the news in 2003, when a forensic anthropologist was looking for clues on whether a skull that had been sitting on a shelf in a council member’s office was Wirt’s stolen head.The long-forgotten candidate last made the news in 2003, when a forensic anthropologist was looking for clues on whether a skull that had been sitting on a shelf in a council member’s office was Wirt’s stolen head.
Several other Marylanders have sought their party’s nomination. The most prominent was long-time governor Albert Ritchie, a Democratic candidate in 1924 and 1932.Several other Marylanders have sought their party’s nomination. The most prominent was long-time governor Albert Ritchie, a Democratic candidate in 1924 and 1932.
Ritchie represented the conservative pro-business wing of the party while also being an ardent foe of prohibition. That combination got him the support of the great journalist HL Mencken, who described Ritchie as being so intelligent as to “make sort of a miracle in public life”. However, it wasn’t enough for him to gain real traction with the Democratic faithful and Ritchie never came too close to winning his party’s nod.Ritchie represented the conservative pro-business wing of the party while also being an ardent foe of prohibition. That combination got him the support of the great journalist HL Mencken, who described Ritchie as being so intelligent as to “make sort of a miracle in public life”. However, it wasn’t enough for him to gain real traction with the Democratic faithful and Ritchie never came too close to winning his party’s nod.
Marylanders though have had slightly more success with the vice-presidency: one native son achieved the second highest office in the land. The bad news is that that native son was former governor Spiro Agnew, who resigned the vice-presidency as part of a plea deal with federal prosecutors. Marylanders, though, have had slightly more success with the vice-presidency: one native son achieved the second highest office in the land. The bad news is that that native son was former governor Spiro Agnew, who resigned the vice-presidency as part of a plea deal with federal prosecutors.
It could be argued, in fact that Maryland’s peak in political influence was in the 1972 election, when Agnew was running for re-election as vice-president to Richard Nixon and challenger George McGovern chose Marylander Sargent Shriver as his choice for the No2 slot. It could be argued, in fact, that Maryland’s peak in political influence was in the 1972 election, when Agnew was running for re-election as vice-president to Richard Nixon and challenger George McGovern chose Marylander Sargent Shriver as his choice for the No. 2 slot.
However, this becomes less impressive after taking into account that Shriver was McGovern’s second choice. His first pick, Missouri senator Thomas Eagleton, had to withdraw after it revealed he had repeatedly undergone shock therapy for mental illness. However, this becomes less impressive after taking into account that Shriver was McGovern’s second choice. His first pick, Missouri senator Thomas Eagleton, had to withdraw after it was revealed he had repeatedly undergone shock therapy for mental illness.
Shriver, the first head of the Peace Corps and John F Kennedy’s brother in law, was the only person willing to take on the poisoned chalice afterwards. McGovern went on to lose in a landslide Shriver, the first head of the Peace Corps and John F Kennedy’s brother in law, was the only person willing to take on the poisoned chalice afterwards. McGovern went on to lose in a landslide.
None of these omens are particularly promising for O’Malley. But, then again, it could be worse. Like Joe Biden, he could be from Delaware.None of these omens are particularly promising for O’Malley. But, then again, it could be worse. Like Joe Biden, he could be from Delaware.