Martin O'Malley Campaigns in N.H.

When former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley got into the presidential race months ago, he assumed his greatest challenge would be getting past Hillary Clinton. But now, Sen. Bernie Sanders is leading in the early primary states, and Vice President Joe Biden may soon be in the mix, as well.

Factor in how the Donald Trump phenomenon is affecting all of this, and you can see how O'Malley is facing an uphill battle.

Asked at a New Hampshire house party how he explains Trump's frontrunner status, the Democratic candidate said it ties in with the fact that while people are working harder than ever, their standard of living is not improving.

"This is a summer, I think, of anger and fear," said O'Malley. "I believe what Mr. Trump has hit upon is that sad, human willingness that there is to blame others when we're not getting ahead."

O'Malley is one in a long line of people that Trump has been insulting.

After O'Malley said that "all lives Matter" in response to being asked if "Black Lives Matter," Trump took the opportunity to criticize him.

"He apologized like a baby, like a disgusting, little, weak, pathetic baby," said Trump.

Necn asked O'Malley if it is hard not to engage with Trump when he says things like that.

"Well, I'm less concerned about Donald Trump's adolescent name calling propensities than I am about the way he says really racist and hate filled things," he said.

A popular, progressive former governor, O'Malley has struggled to make traction in the Democratic race, polling in the low single digits, even as self-described socialist candidate Sanders has surged ahead of Clinton in some states.

Now, as concern of Clinton's electability rises, it is Biden whose name is emerging as the "Hillary alternative," not O'Malley.

Asked O'Malley why his is not considered the alternative, he said, "I think that time will come. I've been in this race now for about 70 days and unlike the Vice President, I have work to do in this campaign just to get my recognition up."

O'Malley says he thinks the polls will start to move in his favor as people start paying more attention and more importantly when the debates begin in October.

The former governor has been very critical of the Democratic schedule, which includes just six debates.

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