Democratic presidential candidate Deval Patrick was forced to cancel a campaign event Wednesday night after only two people showed up.
Patrick, who entered the primary field too late to qualify for the MSNBC debate in Atlanta, was scheduled to speak across town at a campaign event at Morehouse College, a historically black university. He cancelled the event after only two students showed up, according to CNN reporter Annie Grayer.
"Governor @DevalPatrick was supposed to have an event at Morehouse College tonight," Grayer reported. "An organizer with the college who planned the event told CNN that Patrick cancelled the event when he arrived and learned that he would not have an audience. (Note, two people came, not pictured)."
Governor @DevalPatrick was supposed to have an event at Morehouse College tonight. An organizer with the college who planned the event told CNN that Patrick cancelled the event when he arrived and learned that he would not have an audience. (Note, two people came, not pictured) pic.twitter.com/CzNjWYcWKJ
— Annie Grayer (@AnnieGrayerCNN) November 21, 2019
The former two-term Massachusetts governor announced his presidential run last week, prompting Morehouse, a historically black men's college, to reach out to him on Tuesday to invite him to speak, according to CNN. The two students told CNN that the organizers of the event asked them to attend as they were passing by the room.
Patrick has said he hopes "dedication of supporters" will help him overcome his late entry into the race.
"We're starting from the ground up with less than a year to go until voters head to the polls. But with the dedication of supporters like you, we can build a movement—not for you but by you," Patrick tweeted last week.