DES MOINES — Closing out his pitch to Iowans, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley caught himself before telling potential caucus-goers to "Make America Great Again," the tagline made famous this year by Donald Trump.

"I'm not here to praise you, Iowa. I'm here to challenge you," O'Malley started off. "Lift up a new leader because you can change the course of this presidential race. You can shift this dynamic on caucus night. I know you can. I've seen you do it before. There is nothing so divided about our national politics that it cannot be healed with a renewed faith in one another and new leadership. That's what I have to offer."

"My candidacy is in your hands. Do with it as you will, but I think it's important in order to more our country forward, that once again Iowa lift up a new leader so we can make America — the compassionate, generous, and inclusive place that we need it to be," O'Malley said as the crowd laughed.

Thus far in the Democratic primary, O'Malley has been unable to gain traction in both statewide and national polling, which has put his spot in future Democratic debates in doubt.