OK, so Veep isn't a drama, but hear me out! The Washington DC native and former Maryland governor is focused on rebuilding the American dream. In his 15-step proposal, O'Malley hopes to increase families' net worth by reducing college tuition rates, cutting the gender pay gap, and creating new jobs in the clean energy industry.
Like Clinton, O'Malley is intent on reforming campaign financing and preserving social services like social security and Medicare. O'Malley is also a big veteran supporter — a descendant of a War of 1812 veteran, himself — and has proposed additional legislation to improve veteran employment and health care.
O'Malley has a very progressive approach to immigration. If elected, he would provide immigrants — or New Americans, as he refers to them — relief from deportation with work authorizations, encourage and conduct naturalization outreach, and use detention as a last resort.
Watching O’Malley in the debates is kind of like watching an episode of Veep; it's enjoyable, it adds some poignant commentary, and when it's over you're left thinking, "Well, that was nice." While O'Malley’s platform doesn't differ greatly from those of his competitors, he has yet to duplicate their considerable followings. But perhaps, like Julia Louis-Dreyfus's beloved show, O'Malley wasn’t meant to be an instant success and will instead garner attention at a slightly later time.
