Well, if it is a ploy it certainly is a nasty prank. The Republican Party has been a coalition of several disparate groups for many years. This breaks up the delicate balance and pretty much destroys the party.
On the other hand, maybe it is better this way. I'm sure the Evangelicals really got tired of waiting for the Economic Republicans to do anything much about abortion. Likewise the "bamboozled working class" Republicans unsatisfied with the Chamber of Commerce Republicans dragging their feet on immigration because of their addiction to cheap Mexican labor.
