Synonyms and related words :
adventurer, also-ran, aspirant, baby kisser, bankrupt, big operator, candidate, dark horse, defeated candidate, dud, failure, favorite son, gunslinger, holdover, hopeful, incumbent, ins, insolvent, insolvent debtor, jack-in-office, margin purchaser, new broom, office seeker, office-bearer, officeholder, operator, plunger, political hopeful, president-elect, presidential timber, public official, public servant, running mate, scalper, smart operator, speculator, stag, stalking-horse