What helped Clinton is that he had a GOP Congress to rescue his butt and force him away from his ultraleft agenda, at least with respect to tax & spend (and he could also simultaneously use them as a running foil). Why Zero is so stupid is that he refuses to follow the same model and persists with the same policies that Clinton had to abandon 2 years in, and it’s why he’ll lose if he doesn’t change course. If Clinton had remained as steadfast as an ultraleft zealot, he’d have lost in ‘96 against any GOP opponent, even Dole.
Yes, the Republican congress was responsible for a lot including welfare reform. Clinton, who was clearly against it vetoed it twice. Only after it was made veto proof did he agree to sign it and he takes credit for it to this day.