Probably depends on the model but I would half guess it is an actual primer due to cold weather starting. Heck... I even have a MTD push mower that the primer mounted on the carburetor, actually shoots gas down the intake tube! hahaha....
If it's a large squish bulb, it probably just injects a pulse of air into the float bowl which raises the fuel level enough to temporarily flood the carb. Some are plumbed direct to the carb and some go through a convoluted path through the carb gasket to the bowl.