Wouldn’t more Rep candidates attract more Rep voters?
The general thought is that without a “front runner” there is no where for enthusiasm and the feeling of backing a winner to form around.
It appears that the candidates of the party see no pecking order hierarchy within their group, why should voters see them as any more than also-rans.
No, the more the worse.... Less money for any one candidate (unless he/she self-finances the run); fewer volunteers as they are split between different campaigns; increased agitation between voter blocks; more ads with more criticism of other Republicans (which becomes GREAT fodder for the future DEMOCRAT opponent!)... Furthermore, dissociated supporters of the losers sometimes do not get behind the winner but carries the disappointment by not voting at all in the general.