Think of it as win, place or show vs. betting on the nose. If one has more than one nom, there is a higher probability you will score/win. One needs to remember 1) of course, when nom'd you are in a pool to be appointed. Depending on how many who are nom'd AND qualified by the board with a clean med record will determine your competitiveness on a particular slate. If you are edged out on one slate - say, a Senate slate, you might win on a Congressional one. 2) Remember even if nom'd and qual'd with a clean med you can be edged out. I have seen in certain years, a 10 for 10 slate - all those nom'd were actually qual'd. It was a competitive slate so, CGO picked the top and actually picked a couple competitive on the same slate. Obviously, all who made the cut were not appointed.
-- retired AC