Why Eric Swalwell Endorsed Martin O'Malley

'When it comes to 2016 endorsements, House Democrats were, until just a couple of days ago, divided into two camps : Those who had publicly endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton for president and those who hadn't.

Enter Rep. Eric Swalwell. Over the weekend, the second-term California Democrat pledged support for former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, becoming the first member of the House Democratic Caucus to back a 2016 presidential candidate other than Clinton, who came to Capitol Hill last week to court lawmakers.

"Martin has put forward a bold and visionary plan to address the rising cost of education, assist the millions held back by debt, and secure a debt-free education for students," Swalwell said in a statement, kicking off a weekend of campaigning alongside O'Malley in Iowa. "Our generation needs Martin O'Malley in the White House."
The statement, emailed Friday to supporters and published as an op-ed in the Des Moines Register, tells the story of Swalwell's introduction to O'Malley in 2001. Swalwell was a 20-year-old student in a government course at the University of Maryland when O'Malley, then the mayor of Baltimore, spoke to the class.

In a Monday afternoon conversation with CQ Roll Call, Swalwell spoke in greater detail about how O'Malley's influence, mentorship and, ultimately, the two men's friendship factored into the decision to back O'Malley's White House run.'>>>

http://www.rollcall.com/news/home/rep-eric-swalwell-endorsed-martin-omalley