President Obama officially kicked off his reelection campaign in Columbus, Ohio Saturday, hoping that throngs of young and minority voters from nearby Ohio State University would recreate the energy and excitement of his first election. Obama volunteers “worked feverishly” in the week leading up to the event, making multiple calls to residents believed to be supportive of the president.

But the crowds didn’t show up. Only 14,000 turned out to fill the 20,000 capacity arena in which Obama gave his speech. And those that were there were nowhere near as enthused as they were four years ago. The New York Times reports that the rally, “had the feeling of a concert by an aging rock star: a few supporters were wearing faded “Hope” and Obama 2008 T-shirts.”