ward heeler

American  

noun

U.S. Politics.

1. a minor politician who canvasses voters and does other chores for a political machine or party boss.

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ward heeler British  

noun

1. Also called: heeler.  derogatory politics a party worker who canvasses votes and performs chores for a political boss

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Etymology

Origin of ward heeler

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90

Example Sentences

The dumbest ward heeler was smart enough to know that time, no matter what else it did, passed, and that the school boy of today was the voter of tomorrow.

From Literature

“Built like a Tammany ward heeler of a century ago, all belly and lopsided grin,” as People magazine put it in 1982, Mr. Breslin was a hyperliterate everyman, a barstool bard full of bluster and mirth.

From Washington Post

To listen to her enemies, and they are legion, she either manipulated the Democratic primary in Hillary Clinton’s favor on a scale that would pain the conscience of a Tammany Hall ward heeler, or she was such an utter failure that the only reason she hadn’t lost her position atop the Democratic National Committee sooner is because President Obama couldn’t be bothered to take the time to fire her.

From Salon

He got his start as a ward heeler for a city council member, then won a council seat in 1983.

From Washington Post

Now, as Mr. Greenberg rallies support, he has taken to calling in chits like a ward heeler on election day.

From New York Times