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Last week was, as Charles Dickens might have described it, the best of times and the worst of times for Virginia Republicans.
On the one hand President Reagan crossed the Potomac last Wednesday to lend his presence to a fund-raiser which the GOP hoped would pour a badly needed half-million dollars into the campaign coffers of Republican candidate for governor Wyatt Durrette. True, Reagan didn’t venture very far into Virginia, nor did he tarry long. The event took place in Northern Virginia’s Crystal City, two miles or so from the White House. He remained about 15 minutes. The faithful ponied up $10,000 each for a reception and $1,000 for a luncheon in honor of the president’s abbreviated visit.
Then, for reasons best known to himself, Durrette chose Tuesday to reveal the answer to one of the great non-secrets of the campaign. He let it be known that he had received a letter from Sen. Harry F. Byrd Jr. assuring Durrette of his support and his support of Durrett’s running mate, John Chichester, for lieutenant governor. Byrd was silent, however, on his choice for attorney general, an omission which has caused dark mutterings within the ranks of the regular GOP. Just why the Reagan and Byrd cards were played at almost the same time is something of a mystery, but then there is suddenly a great deal of mystery about the goings-on in the GOP.
And then, on the other hand, there are the most recent polls. If they are to be believed, the entire direction of the campaign has shifted dramatically. What looked like a virtual dead heat two weeks ago between all the statewide candidates has suddenly become what one political analyst has called a potential Republican rout.
91.8%