Could be a connection, that's for sure. Also, the magnetic pickup in the distributor gets weak. Could be that cranking lowers available voltage, and it spikes back up in the instant you release the Key from Start to Run. Then the engine catches.
We had a 1971 Dodge with the 318 engine and points/condenser ignition. Big project, we put a 360 in it, and changed the ignition to MoPar electronic. It ran much stronger, but then it did that funky starting thing. Our daughters were young then, and they'd cheer Mom when she got it to start. "Yeah Mom, You Got It!"