Today is the big day for politicians statewide as they follow political signs lining the miles of rural roadway leading to the piney woods where the 63rd Annual Shad Planking is taking place in Wakefield, Virginia.
The shad planking is not about the shad … and it’s not even about the beer. It’s about networking … the back-slapping, elbow-rubbing, eye-winking opportunities to pull in new supporters, line up deals and continue the politicking that will be the topic of the day.
This yearly gathering is a tradition that began in the 1930s when Democratic party bosses gathered at what had originally been a celebration of the spring shad run to decide on candidates. It evolved over the years into an event for elected officials, candidates and activists of all political persuasions.
Politicans will be out in full force, pressing the flesh, while supporters and sideline watchers hit the beer wagons and wait for that shad to be planked. Bloggers from the very active Virginia political blogosphere will be taking note of all the action as they balance a beer with their Blackberries while reporters look for quotes to send to editors.
The highlight of the afternoon is when everyone gathers around the wooden stage and listens to old-fashioned speechifying, this year highlighted by the governor himself, Bob McDonnell.
Others expected to attend and possibly say a word or two while sitting on the stage with the governor are Lt. Governor Bill Bolling, who will be running for the Republican gubernatorial seat in 2013, U.S. Senate candiate and former Governor George Allen, who is running for the 2012 election, his tea party opponent Jamie Radtke, and even Terry McAuliffe who was the Democratic gubernatorial candidate two years ago and who-knows-what in the future.
Numerous state senators and delegates as well as local electeds and candidates will also be in the crowds because no one knows who may become the next high-ranking official. After all, it was only a few short years ago that a young state Del. Bob McDonnell walked beneath these pines. He later became Virginia’s Attorney General and, now as governor, his name is bantered about as a possible vice presidential candidate in 2012.
Maybe, just maybe, there’s a bit of magic that comes off of the shad planks at Wakefield.
