Martin O'Malley Fights To Keep His Place In Democratic Debate

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- With time running out until the Iowa caucus, former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley is now fighting to keep his spot in the next Democratic debate.

Derek Valcourt has more on his all-out push to grow support in Iowa.

He's still polling in the single digits. Right now, it's barely enough to qualify him to be on stage in the next debate.

Despite relatively good showings in the debates so far, Martin O'Malley's campaign still hasn't picked up significant steam as the calendar chugs toward the primaries. NBC says O'Malley needs to reach five percent in polls nationally or the first three voting stages to make it on stage for the next debate.

"They're treating your presidential selection process as if it's another episode of `The Apprentice,'" said O'Malley.

O'Malley, whose poll numbers hovered around or below five percent, took aim at NBC and the Democratic National Committee in front of Iowa voters.

"Bad enough that we would be limited to only four debates and that they would hide them on Saturdays behind a football game but now they tell us they can't really manage a three-way race," said O'Malley.

Both Sanders and Clinton have called for O'Malley's inclusion in the debate and it appears for now he will qualify---though just barely---but his future in the race remains unclear.

"He's got no real prospect of winning in any of the early primaries or caucuses," said Matthew Crenson.

Hopkins political science professor Matthew Crenson says it's not likely O'Malley would be chosen to be Clinton or Sanders' running mate but Crenson suspects O'Malley's campaign may be all about the long term.

"I think he really wants to be president and maybe he hope that if he doesn't make it this time, he'll acquire the visibility he needs to get it in 2020, 2024," said Crenson.

Suggesting this time around, the campaign may be all about practice.

If exposure and national campaign experience are the goals this time around, his finances and fundraising may play a big role determining how long he'll stay in the race.

The next Democratic debate is set for January 17 in Charleston, South Carolina.