Of all the voters the GOP could have reached with an agressive ad campaign, the libertarians were at the top of the list. They declined. Defeating the Tea Party was more important to them than defeating mcAuliffe.
You are right. Same was true in 2012 when the RNC voted isolate Ron Paul followers and tea partiers. Essentially saying ‘screw you, we will win without you’. They lost and will never be inclusive. They would rather have control of a losing effort than share power in a winning effort.