The GOP has been trying to capitalize off the tea party for some time, and have failed in some instances like the NY-23 election, in which the tea party fielded a candidate of their own because they were unhappy with the establishment's choice - the teabaggers felt the Republican candidate was too liberal. The election ended up seating a Democrat. The problem is that the tea party has punished the GOP for trying to incorporate moderates and instead of moving more towards the center, where the majority of Americans are, the GOP swung further to the right to cater the minority fringe. I think that the GOP is trying to get greater control over their base so they can more freely pursue moderates, but this strategy will most likely end up failing - the fringe do not want to associate with what they believe to be Marxists or RINOs.