Washington (CNN) -- There's a fight brewing and it could get ugly. In one corner is the Republican Party. And in the other ... the Republican Party. The stakes could not be higher. The GOP has failed to get a majority of Americans to vote for its presidential candidates in five of the last six elections. And Tuesday night's gubernatorial races -- a win in New Jersey and loss in Virginia -- sent confusing signals, at best, about where the party is headed. 5 things we learned from Election Night 2013 The fight spilled out into the open in a race for Alabama's 1st Congressional District, with two Republicans the face of the party's internal civil war.
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Moderates are moving to battle tea party conservatives for the soul of the GOP
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Ex-Rep. Steve LaTourette is helping raise funds to counter tea party support in primaries
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"Internal fights are wasting money," GOP strategist says
Too often, LaTourette said, Republicans are backed into positions to avoid being called a RINO -- Republican in Name Only -- and getting pummeled by fellow @placeholder on the campaign trail.