Perhaps - but supporting it nonetheless narrows the perceived difference between oneself and the Rat. Republicans who want the limited-government vote need to take it seriously as a principle, not just an occasionally convenient slogan.
I suspect that had an infinitesimal impact on the race. The Dems played filthy-dirty in that contest and openly recruited that fake candidate to run as the Libertarian to take GOP votes, which was frankly scandalous. The media paid it no mind. If the GOP had done the same with a Green Party candidate, it would’ve been 24/7 on the news cycle.