Deval Patrick (D-Mass.) has had a rough start to his sudden and unexpected campaign for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, cancelling a campaign event when only two people showed up, Daily Caller reports.
The former Massachusetts governor announced his bid for the nomination last week, as a surprisingly last-minute late entry into the race. But despite being one of the party’s most highly-respected African-American leaders, his struggle to gain any momentum became apparent with the campaign event cancellation due to poor attendance.
The event was set to take place at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. But when Patrick was informed that only two people showed up to the classroom where the speech was to take place, he promptly cancelled the event altogether. CNN commentator Annie Grayer tweeted out a picture of the empty room.
This was the second campaign event for Patrick to feature a nearly-empty room, after a Monday event in Nevada for several of the 2020 candidates. When it was Patrick’s turn to speak, the auditorium was mostly empty as well.
Patrick is one of 17 candidates seeking the nomination, but struggles with name recognition, fundraising, and polling due to his late entry. He did not qualify for last night’s debate and looks likely to miss the next one as well.