Dedicated Bay State backers of Democratic presidential hopeful Martin O’Malley are keeping the faith even though the former Maryland governor seems stuck in a third-place quagmire — pointing to a slight bump in polling as O’Malley fundraises this week in ?Massachusetts.

“This race is not over,” vowed Boston City Councilor Matt O’Malley, no relation, highlighting an ?8 percent showing in New Hampshire according to a PPP poll released Dec. 3. “Earlier this summer he only had 2 percent. We are growing.”

The Boston fundraiser, which costs supporters a minimum of $250 a head, is co-hosted by Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone Thursday. Curtatone, one of the better-known pols backing Martin O’Malley, kept a realistic view of the upcoming contests in Iowa and New Hampshire, where front-runner Hillary Clinton and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders have been leading the polls.

“He does not need to win either of those races,” said Curtatone. “He needs to show firm, he needs to break through all the noise.”

And while O’Malley has nabbed big-name donations from former Gov. Deval Patrick and former ?Lt. Gov. Thomas P. O’Neil III, who both donated $2,700, he still lags behind Clinton and Sanders in fundraising and endorsements.

Curtatone also dismissed the overwhelming list of Clinton endorsements from Bay State pols, including Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Attorney General Maura Healey, as well as more than 80 state lawmakers.

“Endorsements don’t win elections,” he said, adding that O’Malley continues to dazzle voters on the campaign trail.

“I’ve seen it, the way his presence on the ground in Iowa and New Hampshire, the amount of support from young people. He’s out there earning votes,” he said.

Backers quietly cite the dearth of Democratic ?debates — few in number and hidden on low-audience weekend nights.

“We should have had more debates and I’m worried this will hurt us,” said City Councilor O’Malley. “The fact of the matter is, we’ve had two debates so far and he does better every time we have a debate.”

Despite the grim polling numbers so far, Matt O’Malley hinted at a ?potential last-minute surge for the lagging candidate.

“It’s better to peak in January than it is to peak in July like Sanders did,” he said. “We’re in third place but we’re seeing growth and movement.”

And no matter how unlikely a Martin O’Malley primary win might appear, local supporters say that by staying in the race, the former Maryland governor has the chance to nab a Chris Christie-like comeback should Clinton or Sanders suffer a campaign-gouging political meltdown.

“The race could turn on a dime,” said Curtatone. “One strong showing in the early states could catapult him ahead.”