Gov. Martin O'Malley signed paperwork just after 5 p.m. today making his bid for reelection official. (The State Board of Elections stayed open a bit late when the Democratic governor whirled in at the end of the day.)
About 10 minutes earlier, O'Malley arrived at Maryland Democratic Party headquarters, gave a brief pep talk and hustled down West Street with his lime-green-shirted supporters.
O'Malley noted that his chief opponent, Republican former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., "hasn't found time to file." One more dig: "Suffice it to say, he's running to take Maryland back." O'Malley has adopted the phrase "Moving Maryland Forward" as a campaign slogan.
Also in attendance at the hurried rally were Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake and Howard County Executive Ken Ulman. First lady Katie O'Malley and the couple's two boys were by the governor's side.
In front of the elections board office, a small handful of O'Malley detractors loudly referred to him as "the Tax Man."
(Pictured: O'Malley signs in at the State Board of Elections as son Jack looks on.)