“The populous of the U.S. has a hard time imagining someone as president that isn’t a white male,” he said.

But Eddleston suggested that the fact that Moseley Braun is the only woman in the race adds to her appeal, if anything.

“I would like to think that the students are balanced enough and would vote regardless of the sex or race of the person,” he said.

Indeed the Moseley Braun campaign isn’t fretting about interest in the candidate—or the Harvard event.

A campaign spokesperson said the numbers are “not an indication of anything.” He suggested that students possibly had given up on entering the lottery but said he could not speculate further.

“If I could predict the behavior of college students I’d be a rich man right now. I don’t have any reason why,” the spokesperson said.

And event organizers at the IOP are equally confident they’ll be able to find warm bodies to fill the roughly 800-seat capacity forum.

The 350 tickets not used in the IOP lottery are automatically set aside for student political and community groups like the Harvard College Democrats and the Harvard Republican Club, IOP affiliates, related Harvard faculty and staff, campaign officials and the media, according to IOP Director of Communications Andy I. Solomon.

McGeary said that among the Dems, there is a “good showing of interest” with more than 100 members competing for the 60 available tickets.

“We are confident she will have a sizable and excited audience as every other candidate of the ‘Hardball’ series has enjoyed,” said Solomon.

And a number of Harvard students are still eagerly awaiting the chance to hear a presidential hopeful speak, whoever it may be.

While Brown said he’s more excited for the upcoming visits of former Vt. Gov. Howard Dean and retired Gen. Wesley Clark, he’s still looking forward to seeing Moseley Braun—assuming he snags a ticket.

“I’m just ecstatic to see any Democratic candidate speak,” Brown said. “It’s a cool opportunity. I don’t know much about Moseley Braun and it will be good to find out more.”

Up Next

Despite the low interest in Mosely Braun’s appearance, the enthusiasm for prospective campus visits by Democratic presidential candidates remains strong.