The White House, it seems, is going to remain out of reach.

When former Vice President Kamala Harris announced her intention to forgo a run for California governor (following some rather aggressive nudging from Democrats who thought her candidacy would sap the party of enthusiasm and cost them congressional seats), many speculated that Harris could be gearing up for another presidential bid.

As Harris and her allies contemplate a second quest for the White House, the question that polling raises is: “Why?”

These are brutal numbers for a California native, let alone a figure who served as the party’s de facto leader just ten months ago. They are illustrative of what a shoddy contrivance all that “joy” always was, of course. They also highlight the degree to which Harris’s ascent up the ladder of California politics was a function of her ability to navigate intra-Democratic power centers. Harris’s star rose not because she had a special relationship with her voters. Rather, her relationship was with the party’s powerbrokers.

For months, Harris stood at the top of some very preliminary 2028 primary polling, and we can safely attribute that now to name recognition. Recently, national primary polling found her slipping behind former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and that trend is now reflected in the Golden State. That has to bring up some painful memories for Harris — memories she can’t be eager to relive.

If this trend continues, why would Harris subject herself to the embarrassment she experienced in 2019? If the onetime Democratic presidential nominee wants to be president that badly, there have to be some universities out there that would be willing to lend her the title. The White House, it seems, is going to remain out of reach.