The top Google search about former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) following his presidential announcement was “Who is Martin O’Malley?”, according to data analyzed by CNN.
Other top queries include “Is Martin O’Malley a Democrat?”, “How old is Martin O’Malley?” and “How tall is Martin O’Malley?”
{mosads}The queries suggest an electorate that is looking to flesh out their understanding of O’Malley’s biography — with interest in his religion and family life.
But searches from before he announced his plan to challenge frontrunner Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination on Saturday indicate that potential voters are interested in his policy positions, too.
In the week leading up to the announcement, users searched responses to questions including “How does Martin O’Malley feel about the Iran nuclear agreement?” and “Does Martin O’Malley support abortion?” “Who is Martin O’Malley? remained the top search, however.
O’Malley is looking to distinguish his candidacy in a field that is dominated by Clinton. His campaign will look to push back against the impression that Americans are not familiar with him or his time in the governor’s mansion.
That will likely include getting the word out on digital platforms. In the 24 hours surrounding his announcement, 84,000 people in the U.S. generated interactions on Facebook — including shares, likes, comments and statuses — related to his campaign launch.