>Russia conducted an "influence campaign" at least from the time that the race was only between Clinton and Trump, yet we only find out about it after the upset?

Other than the time the US government pointed the finger at Russia a month before the election?[1] It came up numerous times in the debates. Newsweek had an article about Russia's motives a few days before the election[2].

This is not something that is brand new, why are you acting like it is?

[1] https://www.dhs.gov/news/2016/10/07/joint-statement-departme...

[2] http://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-russia-h...

Or they thought she was guaranteed to win and wanted to have this mattered handled much quietly once the election was over.