- access
- activist
- agent
- bad influence
- ball of fire
- beaver
- behind-the-scenes operator
- big-time operator
- big wheel
- bustler
- busy bee
- calculator
- coconspirator
- conspirator
- conspirer
- counterplotter
- court
- doer
- driver
- eager beaver
- eminence grise
- engineer
- enthusiast
- exploiter
- finagler
- five-percenter
- fixer
- four-percenter
- friend at court
- functionary
- gamesman
- go-getter
- good influence
- gray eminence
- handler
- heavyweight
- hidden hand
- human dynamo
- influence
- influence peddler
- influencer
- ingroup
- intrigant
- intriguer
- key
- kingmaker
- live wire
- lobby
- lobbyist
- logroller
- lords of creation
- Machiavellian
- machinator
- maneuverer
- manipulator
- man of deeds
- man of influence
- militant
- open sesame
- operant
- operator
- opportunist
- pilot
- plotter
- political activist
- pork-barrel politician
- power broker
- powerhouse
- powers that be
- pressure group
- Rasputin
- schemer
- sinister influence
- special-interest group
- special interests
- steersman
- strategist
- Svengali
- tactician
- the Establishment
- very important person
- VIP
- wheeler-dealer
- winner
- wire-puller