Deval Patrick, the former governor of Massachusetts, announced on Thursday that he would join the nearly two dozen candidates vying to get the Democratic 2020 nomination—and there are plenty of people who don’t think the race needs another wealthy venture capitalist.
Patrick announced his candidacy in a video on Thursday.
“I admire and respect the candidates in the Democratic field. They bring a richness of ideas and experience, and a depth of character that makes me proud to be a Democrat,” Patrick says in the video. “But if the character of the candidates is an issue in every election, this time is about the character of the country.”
In a spirit of profound gratitude for all the country has given to me, with a determination to build a better, more sustainable, more inclusive American Dream for everyone:
— Deval Patrick (@DevalPatrick) November 14, 2019
I am today announcing my candidacy for President of the United States.https://t.co/hObdLNiFMJ pic.twitter.com/fGmI0qxkxS
And, perhaps as a good indicator of how people feel about the former governor’s foray into the crowded Democratic field, the video was amassing a ratio on Thursday morning, with more than 1,800 replies compared to just 449 retweets and 1,100 likes.
The complaints against Patrick’s candidacy touched on a number of issues including: an already bursting-at-the-seams roster of presidential hopefuls, his work at private equity firm Bain Capital, and his removal of two officials at Massachusetts’s Sex Offender Registry Board as they tried to force his brother-in-law to register as a sex offender.
Dear future Democratic hopefuls,
— Dr. Waitman W. Beorn (@waitmanwbeorn.com 🟦)🇺🇦 (@waitmanb) November 14, 2019
I am sorry but your application for a presidential fellowship is several months late and cannot be accepted. We have many qualified applicants and do not have time to consider your application. Please apply next round.https://t.co/OxxdgaGVFH
https://twitter.com/DiversityEric/status/1194969098305900544
Please, for everyone's sake, just don't. https://t.co/wMFdXavQCv
— Stephen White (@sgw94) November 14, 2019
https://twitter.com/NilesGApol/status/1194954260452126720
Patrick's announcement tweet is getting ratioed. Yikes https://t.co/14nDPitYU5
— Tom Hearden (@followtheh) November 14, 2019
I'm guessing it's not a good sign for Patrick that his announcement video is getting ratioed. https://t.co/U4J9d9FyIW
— Tom Bevan (@TomBevanRCP) November 14, 2019
No. We do not need more Presidential candidates! Run for Congress, we need you there much more than here!! https://t.co/MDhgKw2tXn
— Jules – Forever Ridin' with Biden #46 (@jules1327) November 14, 2019
"Deval Patrick? SIGN ME UP!" said no one not named Deval Patrick.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) November 13, 2019
Just when I was feeling good about the field being whittled down to a manageable 17 candidates, number 18 joins the circus 😒 https://t.co/Pn3RjdUXOR
— Sam Lent (@samanthalent) November 14, 2019
https://twitter.com/JRBloomfield/status/1194980277162061825
It is too late for Patrick to qualify for the upcoming Democratic debate, held next Wednesday, Nov. 20.
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