exert his power within Democratic circles and beyond. Earlier this year, we learned that he has earned approximately $100 million since leaving the White House and raised $400 million for his Clinton Global Initiative foundation, which attracts over 50 heads of state to its annual conference. Last year’s gathering brought in $7.3 billion in committed donations for causes near to Clinton’s heart: health security, economic empowerment, environmental security, leadership development, and cross-cultural understanding. The former president is also Senator Clinton’s top foreign policy advisor together with Madeleine Albright, Richard Holbrooke, and a host of retired generals.

(RESPECTIVELY)

When the former Senate majority leader lost his South Dakota seat, some thought his political days were numbered. But as one of the first senior Democrats to throw his weight behind Obama, Daschle’s access and influence on the potential presidential nominee is considerable,

ranking with such Obama longtime friends as Harvard Law Review classmates Julius Genachowski of Rock Creek Ventures and Tom Perelli of Jenner and Block. He and his wife, Linda, one of the top aviation lobbyists in town, are among Washington’s premiere power couples.

Salter, who is known as “McCain’s closest confidante and alter-ego,” recently left his Senate position to join manager Rick Davis and senior advisor Steve Schmidt in leading the campaign. A speechwriter for McCain and a former aide to neo-conservative diplomat Jeanne Kirkpatrick, Salter is also close with Bill Kristol, McCain’s most influential foreign policy advisor. Together with Davis, whose lobbying shop stepped up to the plate for McCain last year when

With whispers growing louder that former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner is on

almost all hope was lost, they are the campaign’s primary gatekeepers. Davis has assembled a team of trusted McCain advisors that includes Doug Holts-Eakin and Kevin Hassatt (of AEI), both of whom advise on domestic policy.

Although perhaps deliberately not as omnipresent as his predecessor, Terry McAuliffe, Dean’s 2004 presidential campaign revolutionized internet fundraising, and insiders say Obama’s success in this arena is “Dean 3.0.” His power is also reflected in his enforcement of the presidential candidates’ agreement on the Florida and Michigan vote, as well as the fact that he appoints the 25 swing votes to the Democratic Convention Credentials Committee (which could ultimately help decide who becomes the nominee should this race go all the way). Party powers are also impressed with his micro-targeted approach to rebuilding the DNC’s voter file and the rollout of his 50-state strategy.

Most importantly, Dean is one of the few who can bring the gavel down on “superdelegates” and settle the contentious nominee fight by the end of June.

Forget Vegas: viva Frank Fahrenkopf, Jr. A former Republican party chairman, Fahrenkopf is the national advocate for the commercial casino industry and is responsible for positioning the AGA to address regulatory, political, and educational issues affecting its members. Now he’s pushing legislation to allow casinos to operate in the U.S. instead of offshore and enable users to gamble from their television sets.

Over the past year, Washington has seen more and more of the former Hewlett Packard head and savvy business executive, and after recently being named chairman