He's 71 years old and retired from active politics. He's still around and attends CP functions and gives advice from time to time. He wasn't the CP nominee in 2004 or 2008 either, it was Michael Peroutka and then Chuck Baldwin.
>> Did he give Virgil a shot? <<
He doesn't choose the party nominee, the CP delegates to their convention choose the candidate. I believe they have five seeking the party's nod and Goode seems to be the heavy favorite as he's held elected federal office before. I'm sure Phillips would be pleased with Goode and give him his blessing if Goode gets the CP nominee.