Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley has signed up a blues band to entertain the crowd at a rally in Baltimore this weekend where he is expected to announce his run for president.
Mr. O’Malley, who fronts his own Irish folk rock band, opted for the Baltimore-based Kelly Bell Band to provide the soundtrack for his big announcement, reported The Baltimore Sun.
Once he makes it official, Mr. O’Malley will join Vermont Sen. Bernard Sanders, who had a Zydeco band at his campaign kickoff Tuesday, and front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton, who has yet to host a campaign rally with live music, in the quest for the Democratic presidential nomination.
The Kelly Bell Band has established a following in the Mid-Atlantic and previously has played at Mr. O’Malley’s events. In 2005, the group was the opining act for what was one of Mr. O’Malley’s last performances as the frontman for his band, O’Malley’s March, according to the newspaper.
Mr. O’Malley faces an uphill battle against Mrs. Clinton, who towers above the competition in the polls.
A Quinnipiac University national poll released Thursday showed Mrs. Clinton with 57 percent, followed by Mr. Sanders with 15 percent, Vice President Biden with 9 percent and Mr. O’Malley, former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb and former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee all with 1 percent.
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.
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