Test out your theory.
Put an ohm meter across the resister and then jiggle things to be sure there's no loose connection.

Next possibility I'd test for is loose or oxidized connections. I suspect this more likely. Either at the connectors attaching to the ballast or in the start switch.
Why do I suspect this - because think about how it works. In Start, Ignition 2 wire sends power to the coil side of the ballast resistor. So in Start, the engine should have fired. Jumping it in start would not bypass the resistor. Only when the key was released to Run position would the jumper be carrying electricity.