Vice President Kamala Harris, a staple of Democratic politics, made a show of strength recently at a rally in Houston. The supposedly genuine trip was actually a disguised ploy for securing an interview with Joe Rogan, as revealed in a new book, ‘FIGHT: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House’. Harris never could resist the spotlight, it seems.
Despite her political setbacks, including losing to President Donald Trump in the 2024 election, Harris is still stubbornly clinging to her fading political aspirations. According to a recent Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics/The Hill survey, she is now seen as the frontrunner in the Democratic race for the governorship of California.
However, it seems that this poll merely reflects the lack of feasible alternatives. It suggests that among Democratic Primary voters, a mere 57% would support Harris if she chose to run for governor. This appears to be a clear sign of her diminishing appeal within her party and across the electorate.
Digging deeper into this survey, it becomes obvious that without Harris in the race, no other credible Democrat is in sight to take her place. With her out of the picture, 45% of voters remain undecided, while only 21% chose to throw their support behind the former Rep. Katie Porter.
Harris’ current support base, according to Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, is predominantly composed of women (60%), Hispanic (61%), and Black Democratic voters (64%). Although these figures may seem impressive for her, it’s worth noting her shaky ground among other crucial voter segments.
In a Democratic Primary scenario with Harris, she would initially hold the lead. However, without her in the race, it’s anybody’s game. Porter stands out among voters with college degrees (26%) or postgraduate degrees (25%), according to Kimball.
Harris’ future political ambitions remain as vague as her past achievements. Reports suggest she is carefully instructing her advisers and allies to maintain an open mind, signalling her continued desire to seize another public role following her election defeat.
However, California voters offer a lukewarm reception to Harris’ potential gubernatorial bid. A recent poll shows only a 42% approval rate for Governor Newsom, demonstrating just how challenging it would be for Harris to convince voters that she could bring about meaningful change after her failed presidential run.
In comparison, President Trump holds a slightly lower approval rating of 37%, reflecting Californians’ dissatisfaction with political leadership in general. Despite this disenchantment, Trump managed to net a smaller disapproval rating than Harris’ approval rating – a telling sign of her struggle to curry favor with voters.
The polling went further, asking Californian voters their opinion on Trump’s order to open the dams in Central California after the devastating wildfires. Critics argue that the decision was a waste of water resources, however, 48% of voters agreed with Trump’s move, pointing to a polarised sentiment among residents.
A close 52% of polled voters contested the appropriateness of Trump’s action, demonstrating yet again the split views within the state. The large proportion supporting Trump’s decision makes it clear that Harris, with her dismissal of such actions, is out of touch with the realities faced by numerous Californians.
The survey, conducted on February 10-11, involved 1,000 registered voters in California. This painted a stark image of the state’s current political climate. If anything, it sheds light on the uphill battles Harris would face if she were foolish enough to aspire for the governor’s office.
The irony lies in the fact that Kamala Harris, once touted as an emerging force in Democratic Party, is now grappling to gain traction, even within her own state. This could serve as a stern warning to those still nurturing the dream of a Harris-led California.
All in all, these findings paint a grim picture for Harris, suggesting she might want to shelve her alleged gubernatorial ambitions. She’ll need more than vague promises or flashy rallies to win over voters disillusioned by her previous run and current political climate.