O’Malley tunes up 2016 bid

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley hinted at a 2016 presidential run on Friday by playing “Hail to the Chief” on his guitar.

“I’m making a big announcement tomorrow!” he tweeted. “Stay tuned.”

O’Malley’s tweet links to a YouTube clip of the former governor strumming “Hail to the Chief” on an acoustic guitar.

{mosads}The song is the official presidential anthem of the United States.

O’Malley has long stoked anticipation that he will challenge strong favorite Hillary Clinton for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.

O’Malley’s staff also released details of his likely campaign launch earlier this month.

Aides posted a Snapchat video on May 19 depicting the streets of Baltimore filmed from a moving car. The clip also featured shots of the city’s Under Armour headquarters and M&T Bank Stadium, home of professional football’s Baltimore Ravens.

O’Malley served as Baltimore’s mayor from 1999 to 2007.

He announced on May 14 he was eyeing the city for the starting point of his possible campaign.

O’Malley reportedly plans to announce his bid at Baltimore’s Federal Hill Park, a spot overlooking the city’s Inner Harbor and its downtown area. He has used the landmark for several earlier events in his political life.

Former President Bill Clinton rallied voters there for O’Malley and other Maryland Democrats during the 2010 election cycle.

O’Malley has also visited the early-voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire in recent months.

On the Democratic side, Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) have already entered the race, with former Gov. Lincoln Chafee (R.I.) and former Sen. Jim Webb (Va.) expressing interest in a run.

This story was updated at 11:04 a.m.