Martin O’Malley to suspend presidential campaign

Cillizza speculates that, with the margins between Sanders and Clinton likely to be very close, O’Malley supporters might end up determining the outcome.

Earlier in the day, O’Malley was defiant, telling his supporters to “hold strong” and vowing that he would continue his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.

While touting his executive experience as mayor of Baltimore and governor of Maryland, O’Malley could never gain traction in the contest against his better-funded rivals. Huckabee, who was attempting his second bid for the White House, tweeted “officially suspending my campaign”. His campaign aides told the The Washington Post that some of the former Maryland governor’s staff has had to work without pay. Word about O’Malley’s move comes from people familiar with his decision. Ted Cruz, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio dominating the race.

When Democrats caucus in Iowa, they show support by moving to assigned areas in each caucus site, be it a school or public hall. While serving as governor, he signed into law bills allowing same-sex marriage and raising the minimum wage.

O’Malley was expected to come under pressure to drop out of the race ahead of the February 9 primary in New Hampshire if he did not exceed those polling results. Huckabee has boasted that in Arkansas politics, he found success in “challenging the deeply entrenched political machine that ran this state”.