No, it's no deflection, its the truth.  You campaign for the Electoral College, that's what they call the "Path to Victory".  You don't campaign for the popular vote because it doesn't decide the election.  Trump campaigned for the Electoral College which what you're supposed to do -- put all the effort and money to win the states that win you the Electoral College.  

Trump didn't need California or New York (2 states that Clinton had the best chance of winning) so he ignored them.  And by ignoring them, Republican turnout wasn't as large as it could have been.