Why hold a party convention if it barely reduces the field?

Republicans in Connecticut are excited about their prospects in November’s race for governor.  And for good reason:  Gov. Dannel Malloy (D), who is not seeking re-election, has ranked for months among the least popular governors in the nation.

But the Republican field is crowded, and last weekend’s Republican convention did little to change that.  Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton came out on top, but former Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst, and Westport businessman Steve Obsitnik both earned enough votes to force a statewide primary.  Now Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti and state Rep. Prasad Srinivasan, neither of found enough support at the convention to advance to the primary, have decided to continue their campaigns via a different route.  If by June 12 they each collect at least 9,081 signatures from registered Republicans, their names too will appear on the August primary ballot.

Wait, there’s more:  two other candidates skipped the convention entirely.  David Stemerman and Bob Stefanowski have planned all along to seek a spot on the primary ballot by gathering signatures instead.

All told, that means as many as seven names could appear on the primary ballot – after the party held a convention with the goal of avoiding a primary altogether.