Maybe this results in a worse shellacking later. After all, 1994 was not an especially terrible economy, the underlying symptoms could have arisen later. Besides, where does it end? Are you going to give up on Presidential elections entirely in order to do better in Congress? Republicans already had three consecutive terms at that point, isn't it about time you made use of your majorities?
I would give up on Presidential elections in a second in order to hold onto Congress. The Presidency is a weak and useless position to have.
