Story highlights Former Maryland governor rips DNC for "terrible disservice to the public"

O'Malley says the DNC designed debate schedule to boost Hillary Clinton

(CNN) Democratic presidential candidate Martin O'Malley lambasted the Democratic National Committee on Tuesday for holding too few debates and accused the DNC of orchestrating the schedule to "circle the wagons" in support of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

O'Malley, the former governor of Maryland, charged that the DNC was scheduling debates so they would be hidden "behind football games and 'Frosty the Snowman'."

Photos: Moments from Martin O'Malley's career Photos: Moments from Martin O'Malley's career Former Democratic Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley addresses the 2015 International Association of Fire Fighters on March 10. Hide Caption 1 of 11 Photos: Moments from Martin O'Malley's career O'Malley has not been shy about potentially running in 2016, saying about potential competitors Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton that the presidency is not a "crown" to be passed through families. Hide Caption 2 of 11 Photos: Moments from Martin O'Malley's career In some early 2016 polling, O'Malley is pulling single-digit numbers. Hide Caption 3 of 11 Photos: Moments from Martin O'Malley's career O'Malley speaks during the 2015 Alfred K. Whitehead Legislative Conference and Presidential Forum on March 10. Hide Caption 4 of 11 Photos: Moments from Martin O'Malley's career O'Malley speaks at a Democratic fundraiser at Gibson's Bookstore and True Brew Cafe on March 6 in Concord, New Hampshire. Hide Caption 5 of 11 Photos: Moments from Martin O'Malley's career O'Malley speaks during a ceremony commemorating the bicentennial of the writing of The Star-Spangled Banner at Fort McHenry National Historic Park on September 13, 2014. Hide Caption 6 of 11 Photos: Moments from Martin O'Malley's career O'Malley delivers remarks before Barack Obama takes the stage at a Costco store January 29, 2014 in Lanham, Maryland. Hide Caption 7 of 11 Photos: Moments from Martin O'Malley's career O'Malley addresses a conference commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Center for American Progress on October 24, 2013. Hide Caption 8 of 11 Photos: Moments from Martin O'Malley's career O'Malley speaks during the National Clean Energy Summit 6.0 on August 13, 2013 in Las Vegas. Hide Caption 9 of 11 Photos: Moments from Martin O'Malley's career O'Malley and his wife Katie O'Malley arrive for a State Dinner in honor of British Prime Minister David Cameron at the White House on March 14, 2012. Hide Caption 10 of 11 Photos: Moments from Martin O'Malley's career O'Malley campaigns for reelection on October 27, 2010, in Frederick, Maryland. Hide Caption 11 of 11

"The party leaders -- or I should say the party leader -- Debbie Wassermann Schultz is doing a terrible disservice to the public ... we are the Democratic Party, not the undemocratic party," O'Malley said in an interview on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."

The third and most recent Democratic debate took place on Saturday, December 19 in New Hampshire -- during an NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Jets.

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