Dole was worse.
Especially considering the environment in which Dole ran. Everything that McCain had against him, Dole had for him. What's more, the GOP and the conservative movement in general, had their biggest gains in '94.
And yet, that same GOP ran a unquestionable war hero and patriot but an equally unquestionable moderate. When you run a moderate, you'll lose every time, regardless of what the the political climate may or may not be.
One thing better about Dole, he didn’t get well known by attacking other Republicans.