I felt I knew where she stood on many issues so I don't know where the people you know are coming from because we've been exposed to different things.
That's because you're intelligent and educated and did your research. And--apologies but I'm assuming here you tend to stick with people who think/vote like you and watch media that agrees with your position. THOSE sources are going to understand where candidates stand on policies. However, there are voters who are not going to bother, who are going to maybe watch the main debates or an interview or two at best; those are the times I felt Kamala needed to be clearer on her policies and waste less time bashing Trump no matter how valid her thoughts were on her opponent.
But while the candidate could have done better, I also feel like a candidate is sometimes stuck at the behest of what they're asked when they're in a debate or interview and both Hillary and Harris got too many questions about Trump. Or criticism for not being detailed enough while he seemed to absolutely skate on not having policy or details. They're held to different standards.
Oh, absolutely the media shares the blame. And absolutely Trump wasn't asked enough about exactly HOW he was going to accomplish what he promised he'd do. But I think--just my opinion--that many voters assumed that since Trump has already been President once, they knew what he would do with a second term. Which...yeah, SO wrong, IMO.
I know it's a total fantasy but I wish we lived in a political climate where more time was spent talking about what a candidate wants to get done and less time was spent bashing the opponent. Both sides are guilty of that. But alas, that ship sailed a LONG time ago.