stalking-horse
Candidate hiding intentions
A stalking-horse is a decoy or front used to conceal true intentions.
The term comes from hunters hiding behind horses to approach game undetected.
In politics, a stalking-horse candidate tests the waters or divides opposition while masking the real contender's ambitions: He was just a stalking-horse for the party's preferred nominee.
Any person or thing used to disguise a scheme may be called a stalking-horse.
Person seeking selection
- decoyFalse target for misdirection
- front-runnerLikely winner
- proxyAuthorized substitute
- surrogateOne acting for another
primary · nomination · diversion · campaign · bid · challenger · figurehead · stand-in
candidate
Person seeking selection
- decoyFalse target for misdirection
- front-runnerLikely winner
- proxyAuthorized substitute
surrogate · primary · nomination · diversion · campaign · bid · challenger · figurehead · stand-in · puppet
blind
Lacking the sense of sight
- concealmentAct of hiding something
- hideConceal or pelt
- decoyFalse target for misdirection
cover · quarry · approach · camouflage · game · prey · screen · stealthy · fowling · wildfowl
takeover
Assuming command of something
- bidOffer to purchase
- acquisitionAct of obtaining something
- hostileAggressively unfriendly
proxy · front · corporate · raider · target · buyout · offer · preliminary · strategic · shareholder
stalking-horseprincipal
Chief school administrator
prime mover · independent candidate · mastermind · puppet master
horse, stalk, stalks, stalker, stalking, stalked, unstalked, stalking-horses