handshaker

applicant aspirant bidder competitor contender contestant nominee successor

claimant entrant hopeful petitioner possibility pothunter runner seeker stumper suitor write-in

dark horse favorite son job-hunter office seeker possible choice solicitant whistle-stopper

congressperson lawmaker leader legislator member of Congress officeholder president representative senator

orator partisan speaker

Party member baby-kisser boss member of parliament office seeker public servant statesperson whistle-stopper

groupie lackey

adulator bootlicker doormat fan fawner flatterer flunky groveler hanger-on minion parasite puppet

brown-noser