US presidential hopeful Martin O'Malley visits Puerto Rico amid economic crisis

Democratic presidential candidate, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, left, walks with Jaime Perello, speaker of Puerto Rico’s House of Representatives during a campaign stop in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2015. O’Malley is the first Democratic candidate to campaign in Puerto Rico. (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo) (The Associated Press)

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Democratic presidential candidate, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, left, talks to Jaime Perello, speaker of Puerto Rico’s House of Representatives during a campaign stop in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2015. O’Malley is the first Democratic candidate to campaign in Puerto Rico. (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo) (The Associated Press)

Democratic presidential candidate and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley greets people during a campaign stop in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2015. O’Malley is the first Democratic candidate to campaign in Puerto Rico. (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo) (The Associated Press)

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley has become the first Democratic presidential candidate to make a stop in Puerto Rico this campaign as part of an effort to woo Latino voters.

He met Saturday with legislators to talk about their concerns as the U.S. territory battles an economic slump and struggles with $72 billion in public debt. O'Malley also was scheduled to attend a fundraiser late Saturday.

O'Malley told The Associated Press in a brief interview that Puerto Rico should receive the same benefits as the U.S. He said that Wall Street, forces on the mainland and a Republican Congress were treating the island unfairly.

Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla has been pushing for the right for public agencies to file for bankruptcy under Chapter 9.