That’s what happens in states with conventions.
Minnesota is another such state, though I think more candidates ignore the convention results and run in the primary anyway.
The extreme is Utah, where you can’t make the primary ballot without being a top 2 finisher at the convo, and if the winner gets over 60% he is nominated and there is no primary at all.
Ummm... don't ALL states have state party conventions? The Illinois Republican Party convention is set for June 8-9 this year in Tinley Park. State GOP chooses Tinley Park for 2012 convention
Of course, it would be pretty difficult for the IL GOP to endorse candidates for the primary, considering the primary was in March and the convention is in June.
Still, not only do the delegates NOT endorse candidates, they wouldn't even let us vote on who the national committeeman and committeewoman would be. I'm still irked about what happened at the 2008 state party convention where everything from the platform to the committeeman's race was decided behind closed doors and the delegates were expected to rubber stamp it.