Sentence:  In his CDC work , Carvey has the close-in support and advice of one of California 's shrewdest political strategists : former Democratic National Committeeman Paul Ziffren , who <WSD>backed</WSD> him over a Northland candidate espoused by Atty. Gen. Stanley Mosk . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  be behind; approve of