A former rival of Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination was in Scranton on Sunday afternoon to help motivate volunteers to push their candidate over the top.

No, not Sen. Bernie Sanders. That would be former Baltimore Mayor and Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, who popped into Mrs. Clinton's downtown headquarters to fire up the troops, particularly teachers making calls for the candidate.

"I'm one of the few people that can stand in front of you and tell you that I have worked with Secretary Clinton, and I have competed against Secretary Clinton," he said. "And she is a tough person. She can do this job. She is ready to do this job. She has the temperament to do this job. She is prepared and has the hard-won experience to do this job on day one."

Mr. O'Malley said he has made several trips to Scranton, including an official visit in 2008 to stump for Mrs. Clinton's first attempt at the presidency. He also recalled attending one St. Patrick's Day parade, and joked he survived to attend a second one.

Wearing blue jeans and a collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up, he told a group of about 30 campaign workers and teachers that his oldest child is a teacher in the Baltimore public school system.

Rosemary Boland, the president of the Scranton Federation of Teachers, gave a fiery speech in the stuffy room.

"We agree, probably, on every issue that's current in this election," she said, declaring the two most important ones are public education and sensible checks on gun ownership. She blasted the presumptive Republican nominee for president, Donald Trump, as being unfit to hold the office.

The Scranton campaign office for Mrs. Clinton, located at 207 N. Washington Ave. on Courthouse Square, is to have an official opening Tuesday.

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pcameron@timseshamrock.com, @pcameronTT on Twitter