There are a few significant divisions. The social/fiscal division, even though it gets a lot of attention, isn’t it. One clue is that we talk about it all the time, and one of the easiest ways to know what’s insignificant is to listen to what people babble about the most. Here are the big splits, in my opinion:
1). Traditionalists versus libertarians. Which sounds like social versus fiscal conservatism, but isn’t.
2). Religious versus nonreligious, agnostic, or, less often, atheist.
3). Hawk versus isolationist.
That's an interesting way of looking at the divide. I think, you're correct.
Not many candidates, or people even.. are on the same side of all three of those.
One thing I DO know: Republicans CANNOT win without full-throated support from BOTH sides. Seems to me, the Social Conservatives are the ones who've shown they are most likely to "stay home".. since, they are voting on 'principle', not simply 'interests'.
Problem is... they rarely get candidates that truly support their positions.
And, anyway... what ARE their positions? Personal? Or, do they require a government mandate for their personal beliefs?