Romney ignored the Conservative base that’s why he lost.
He tried to capture the mushes and the mushes voted for Obama.
As you point out, the way to beat democrats is not by pandering. I think you have to have bright fresh ideas of your own to sell, and have to point out how old, tired, and perpetually disproved their ideas are. Then let the chips fall where they may. Romney also lost because he didn't slam back at the false narrative pushed by the Democrats that he was an ‘out of touch’ fat cat.