Lexicon of Politics: Day 34

gut-fighter n. a candidate or political operative who wages an unusually aggressive, uncompromising campaign, especially against a politically stronger opponent.

1984 Univ. Tenn instructor:
I guess the classic example of a political gutfighter would be Richard Nixon.

1962 Time (Feb. 23) 62:
Brusque, sly and opportunistic, Standton...was the special blend of gut-gighter and idealist that LIncoln wanted and needed.
from the oxford dictionary of american political slang