O'Malley in the driver's seat

The Democrat preceded his four-year term as governor with a seven-year stint as Baltimore mayor. Those jobs have long come with the perk of an official driver.

But after an announcement this morning about 11 new jobs coming to a GM transmission plant in White Marsh, O'Malley hopped into a Chevy Volt for the TV cameras.

"You sure you want me to do this?" he said jokingly. "It's the first time in 10 years."

(Aides say that's a bit of an exaggeration on his part; he does occasionally drive.)

Reporters stuck around in case the infrequent driver veered off the road.