THESAURUS
wheeler dealer
Machiavellian, Rasputin, Svengali, VIP, access, activist, bad influence, ball of fire, beaver, behind-the-scenes operator, big wheel, big-time operator, bustler, busy bee, court, doer, eager beaver, eminence grise, enthusiast, finagler, five-percenter, friend at court, gamesman, go-getter, good influence, gray eminence, heavyweight, hidden hand, human dynamo, hustler, influence, influence peddler, influencer, ingroup, key, kingmaker, live wire, lobby, lobbyist, logroller, lords of creation, machinator, man of action, man of deeds, man of influence, manipulator, militant, new broom, open sesame, operator, political activist, pork-barrel politician, powerhouse, powers that be, pressure group, sinister influence, special interests, special-interest group, strategist, take-charge guy, the Establishment, very important person, winner, wire-puller