Presidential hopeful Martin O'Malley sings in Osage, seeks support.

Arms outstretched and smile wide, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley on Saturday fully embraced his current position in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

"I have firmly secured third place," O'Malley joked to a crowd of about 35 people in Osage. "And we are moving up."

It was true. . .

O'Malley opened with a short speech highlighting the progressive steps Maryland made while he was governor, specifically legalization of same-sex marriage and repealing the death penalty.

Those measures were made, he stressed, only through building consesus with Republicans

O'Malley kept the event light, singing to the crowd and joking about the wide gap between himself and frontrunners Clinton and Sanders.

However, he maintained he represents what American wants in a leader.

"I know when a man stands before you with two percent national name recognition and tells you he's running for president of the United States, he intends to win and the campaign's going well...There's a fine line between delusion and imagination," he said. "But I am not delusional about this: I know, because I've been all across this country, that what people are asking for is new leadership and to get things done as Americans."

His message resonated with Deb Quitney, of Clear Lake. Although she's a Sanders supporter, Quitney attended the Osage event with an open mind.

"He earned a second look from me," she said.

O'Malley showed on Saturday he has a shot to give Clinton and Sanders a run for their money, said local Democrat and caucus organizer Carol Iverson, of Mason City,

"I thought he had a very clear good message and the next debate's gonna be great," Iverson said after the event in Osage. "We wouldn't be having such a crowded field and he'll get a chance to speak up."

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