(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Former Maryland governor Martin O'Malley, a onetime Hillary Clinton loyalist, launched his White House campaign Saturday, warning the Democratic frontrunner that the presidency was not her "crown" for the taking.
Calling for a revival of an American dream he described as "hanging by a thread," O'Malley highlighted income inequality and pledged to close "a growing gap of injustice" in America should he prevail in his uphill challenge.
He hit out at "powerful, wealthy special interests" that he said have conspired to line pockets of the rich while leaving increasing numbers of Americans behind, despite more than six years with Democrat Barack Obama in the White House.
"Our economic and political system is upside down and backwards and it is time to turn it around," O'Malley told hundreds of supporters in a park overlooking downtown Baltimore.
The 52-year-old is youthful, charismatic, and brings to his campaign executive leadership experience as a two-term Baltimore mayor and two-term state governor.
But he is an unknown to most Americans who live outside the Washington-New York corridor where his political successes have been more broadly recognized.
O'Malley supported Clinton's ill-fated 2008 presidential run, but he signaled Saturday that despite her overwhelming frontrunner status, it would not be a waltz to the nomination for Clinton in 2016.
He took a swipe at the two families that have led the country for much of the past quarter century, saying he knew Wall Street would have no problem accepting another Clinton or Bush in the White House.
"The presidency is not a crown to be passed back and forth... between two royal families," O'Malley boomed, to loud applause.
In the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination, however, the 67-year-old Clinton enjoys a huge lead over her two declared rivals - liberal independent Senator Bernie Sanders, 73, and now O'Malley.
According to RealClearPolitics.com, O'Malley polls at less than one percent to Clinton's 63.6 percent. Sanders' support is 8.8 percent.
Clinton, who reportedly received a call from O'Malley before his campaign launch, used Twitter to welcome her new rival.
"Welcome to the race, Gov. O'Malley," she tweeted. "Looking forward to discussing strong families and communities."
The narrow Democratic race could not be more different than the stampede of politicians seeking the Republican Party nomination.
Eight candidates are already in the Republican contest and eight more are all but certain to jump in, including Jeb Bush, the son and brother of two former presidents.
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