ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Supporters of former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley announced the formation a super PAC on Thursday to raise money to help his expected presidential campaign.

The launch of Generation Forward came two days before a scheduled news conference in Baltimore where O'Malley, the city's former mayor, is set to announce his plans for the 2016 Democratic primary.

"We cannot choose to go back to the politics of the 20th century," said Damian O'Doherty, CEO of the Washington-based PAC and a longtime O'Malley supporter. "We need new leadership for the 21st century."

That was no doubt a reference to O'Malley's relative youth, 52. Hillary Rodham Clinton, 67, is the dominant figure in the Democratic contest. Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, 73, is also running for the Democratic nomination.

Super PACs can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to advocate for and against candidates, but the spending cannot be directed by the campaigns themselves.

Organizers of Generation Forward are planning to run advertising in early primary states. The PAC also plans to hire staff for field organizing, digital outreach and social media.

Organizers say the group will support other candidates as well in coming months. "Generation Forward is about more than any one campaign," said Ron Boehmer, the organization's communications director and a spokesman for O'Malley when he was governor. O'Malley left office in January after serving two terms as governor.