"We?" You mean the beleagured GOP? I've never seen the GOP use a hammer to do anything but smash their own thumb.
The GOP did a good job in the 02 mid-term (first Republican to gain seats in a mid-term), they did an excellent job of nationalizing the election in a way that played on Bush's public perception strengths. They even did a good job in 94, for all of its broken promises the Republican Revolution got the votes and broke the Dem hold on power. I know we all like to bitch and moan about GOP missteps, and certainly there are plenty to complain about, but the reality is they actuall do know how to win elections, there's a reason we've held the White House for 7 of the last 10 elections.