Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley to Be Named DGA Chairman

Up-and-coming Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley is set to take over as chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, according to a story in Politico Tuesday. When confirmed, the DGA will have a proven, prolific fund-raiser to jump in and gear up a year early for the 2012 elections.

The popular former Baltimore mayor is expected to be announced as chairman Wednesday in Washington.

He'll have to start drumming up money for 2011 campaigns almost immediately.

Three key governor races will be decided in 2011 -- including two with sitting governors. In Kentucky, Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear will have to fight hard for re-election; in Louisiana, Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal will be tough to unseat. The only open-seat race unfolds in conservative Mississippi, where Republican Gov. Haley Barbour will term-limit out.

O'Malley will follow Delaware Gov. Jack Markell as DGA chair. Markell raised some $50 million -- far short of the RGAs total of $102 million. Barbour, RGA chairman this year, set the bar incredibly high for governors associations' roundup of cash and results. Apart from the $102 million total, Republicans in 2010 picked up six governorships and key swing states like Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.

O'Malley, like Kendrick Meek, embraced President Barack Obama on the campaign trail. But unlike Meek, the association helped rather than hurt him. He even aired commercials featuring the president, calling him a friend who would make tough decisions -- all for the good of Maryland.