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By JOHN GOOLR1CK
In bygone days of Virginia politics it was often the custom of the Democratic hierarchy to give “the nod” tp someone it favored in a battle for a party nomination.
It was done in different ways. Perhaps, Harry Byrd Sr. conspicuously greeting a particular person at the Shad Planking. Maybe a kind word from on high. The idea was to send a message to the faithful without having to make an outright endorsement.
Mills Godwin recalls those days since early in his political career he was a recipient of “the nod” and later a provider.
Recently former Governor Godwin showed up at a Richmond fund raiser for GOP lieutenant governor aspirant John Hager and said that while he wasn’t taking sides in the nomination battle for that position that Hager was a long-time friend and a fine man wellqualified for high office.
Despite Godwin’s professed neutrality, several who were there clearly recognized it as “the nod.” Said one, “He didn’t leave me with any doubt he’s for John Hager. And I think everyone else there had the same idea.”
During a visit to Fredericksburg last week, Hager told me that he was grateful that Godwin as well as former Gov. Linwood Holton showed up at his campaign event. He said he valued his friendship with Godwin, but would not try to characterize Godwin’s presence or words of praise as an endorsement.
Whatever the case, there seems to be a feeling among impartial observers that the Hager campaign, after a slow start, has picked up momentum since the first of the year and that the former American Tobacco Company executive is becoming wellpositioned in the race with rivals, T. Coleman Andrews Jr. of Fairfax and Del. Jay Katzen of Fauquier.
Former state Republican official turned newspaperman, Mike Salster, sees the contest now as a “jump ball” between Hager and Andrews. Since Andrews is still raising more money—, much of it coming from Northern Virginia interests, i.e. big developers— Hager’s task won’t be easy. There are those who think the aim of the
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