Who are they trying to convince....us or themselves?
Hiding away while running for President is an act of sanity.
Sounds like they are trying to build up high hopes among democrats so when their world crashes down as Trump is reelected, the left can channel that discontent into action — riots, property destruction, etc.
If nothing else, they want to promote the idea of Trump’s election as illegitimate, much like they did with Bush in 2000 (”Selected, not elected”). It’s good for their fundraising and for keeping their loyalists towing the line.