Will the '12 Republican primary field face the same pressures as the '08 field?

[Joe Republic]

For one thing, Independent voters in open primary states won't be drawn away by a Democratic nomination contest (presumably), which means the Republicans will have a bigger market group.  Thus, there's a teeny bit more breathing space for those candidates who lag behind within the Republican bloc.

By the way, Log Cabin Republicans have it all wrong.  If you're going to be a gay Republican, you have to be extraordinarily homophobic first, and then be caught with your pants down.  Anything else is a terrible strategy.