late train

n. post-election support for a candidate, especially when switching from a losing candidate to a winning one. Subjects: Texas, English, Politics, Slang

Editorial Note: Common in constructions like “take/get on/board/catch the late train.”

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Citations: 1983 [Thomas B. Edsall] Washington Post (Apr. 25) “Economic Ills Strain Alliance Of Oilmen, GOP” p. A1: Within a month after Clements lost, Mark White, the victor, held a series of “get on board the late train” fund-raisers that produced $3 million from many of the original Clements backers. 1986 Wayne Slater, George Kuempel Dallas Morning News (Texas) (Mar. 23) “Big Donations Fuel White’s Campaign Series: The Money Behind The Candidates” p. 1A: In order to communicate, it helps to be on the right side, said Bob Cozean, a Houston-based real estate developer who, with partner Pat Gilbert, has contributed $15,000 to White’s re-election campaign. “As opposed to taking a late train, which many of us did last time,” he said, “this time, we were there at the beginning.” 1998 Houston Chronicle (Texas) (Jan. 9) “Most action in the primary is on Republican side of the ballot”: All aboard! Houston Mayor Lee Brown’s late train chugs out on Feb. 3 at the Westin Galleria Hotel. It’s a fund-raiser for Brown’s campaign. Anyone who didn’t contribute the maximum amount to Brown’s coffers can curry political favor—or just show support and admiration—by tossing in some bucks now. That includes people who backed Rob Mosbacher and now don’t want to lose their clout totally because of their stake in City Hall policies, politics or contracts. In the campaign business, it’s called a “late train” fund-raiser. 2002 Michael King, Jordan Smith Austin Chronicle (Texas) (Dec. 13) “Harbingers of the Season”: On the Lege scene, most of the serious December action is confined to “late-train” fundraisers recalling the opening scenes of The Godfather—much public celebration while the lobbyists, checks in hand, line up in the back rooms. [2006 Richard S. Dunhan, Eamon Javers BusinessWeek (Feb. 9) “Shakedown on K Street”: That game can be expensive. One Washington lobbyist who asked not to be identified says he gave money to the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for a House seat. After the election, the Republican winner called to demand a check—bigger than the original gift. Why? “The late train is a hell of a lot more expensive than the early train,” the lobbyist says he was told.] 2007 Allan Parker Express-News (San Antonio, Texas) (June 16) “Fix term limits? Not if system is not broken”: Haass recounted how the special interest donations start flowing to incumbents as soon as they are elected. All the people who supported the council member’s opponent get on the “late train,” as it is called. Suddenly, the incumbent is best friends with all the people who need government power to accomplish goals they cannot achieve through cooperation with citizens.

Posted 18 Jun 07 | Permalink | Tell a Friend