In another year, Martin O’Malley would look like a front-runner for president of the United States.

He’s a photogenic former governor of an influential state, Maryland, and boasts a record of progressive achievements that should thrill grassroots Democrats. At age 52, he’s old enough to command some gravitas and young enough to look like a candidate of tomorrow. He even plays a mean guitar.

But Mr. O’Malley, as of right now, is not being taken seriously. Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state, is the juggernaut of 2016. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who calls himself a socialist, is electrifying liberals in Iowa and New Hampshire who are sick of the Clinton dynasty. Much of the chattering class thinks there’s simply no oxygen left for the nice-looking guy from Maryland.

Unsurprisingly, the O’Malley camp is dismissive of such talk. And they’re convinced Mr. O’Malley is exactly where he needs to be, even if he’s garnering single-digit support in national and early voting state polls.