With such growing clout, some believe the Obama administration has gone out of its way to avoid offending Beijing.

VOA: standard.2009.11.10

"To have more clout with the US, said we don't want to just retaliate in agriculture."

VOA: standard.2010.04.28

With clout as well as savvy, these advisers have emerged as the behind-the-scenes powerbrokers of the Estrada administration.

CNN: THE TROUBLESHOOTERS

Two years ago, there was only one Republican state politician with clout enough to lead the effort: Bob Livingston.

ECONOMIST: The Louisiana House race

Smaller government affords less power for those with clout to co-opt.

FORBES: Obama Tears Down His Own Wall Street