Everything the Democrats do is about optics

She has pretty terrible political instincts, so I imagine that it is something like:

"Harris fought internally to distance herself from the Biden administration and their policies, but the party, the Biden admin, and her campaign advised her against that strategy."

Which, in her mind paints the picture that her hands were tied and that she inherited a bad situation. What she doesn't understand is that her cowardice and lack of conviction is what people dislike about her.

Exactly. Not to mention often those boring candidates push wedge issues like gun control, trans issues, and race / gender based identity politics which make them very unpalatable for rural moderates.

The sad thing is, if the Democrats gave up gun control and focused on economic reform, they would clean house.

If the Republicans gave up their religious anti-gay agenda and focused on efficient government, they would clean house.

Both parties are so far in bed with a handful of big donors that they are totally out of touch with their electorate.