Well, the vast majority of social conservatives will eventually support him, but the fringe that won't can and should leave the party.
This may be a replay of 2000, when the Buchananites left the party. Most conservatives will make peace with Rudy, but extremists and one-issue voters will not. And I'm not in a forgiving mood for people who abandon the GOP in wartime.
Agreed.
but the fringe that won't can and should leave the party.
That's not my view. I like the energy of political battles within the party.
What salient facts do you base this on?
Those who disagree with the socially conservative Republican Party platform are the liberal "fringe" who should leave the party. There's the door. Go find yourself a socially liberal party. The rest of us Republicans will stick with the platform that actually defines the party and fight for the issues therein. Pro-life. Pro-traditional marriage. Etcetera.