Clinton won in 1991 getting just 43% of the vote. REASON: George H.W. Bush’s RINOism and betrayal of Reagan’s agenda.
That and that alone is the real hard core reason as to why Poppy Bush lost. He did exactly from day one just as you said and our nation paid dearly for it. Clinton on platform and in speeches ran to the right of Liberal Poppy in 1992. Clinton didn't govern as such as POTUS but that's beside the point. He did it again in 1996 when Bob Dole ran Liberal.
The GOP Congress in 1994 ran on Reagan's Conservative platform and won big. Then before a year in power had abandoned it. They got voted out of power for doing so. GOP needs to stop blaming Independents for your own dismal pathetic pandering to the Democratic Party and concentrate on delivering Consistent Conservative Constitutional Leadership. Do that much and like Reagan you'll win many more elections than you loose to DEMs by trying to pander. The choice is your to do so as the choice is mine to vote for or replace you. NEVER take my vote for granted because of party name.