Lexicon of Politics: Day 36

heeler n. a hanger-on or adherent of a politician or political party who usually carries out the orders of political bosses in the hope of personal aggrandizemnet --used contemptuously. Now rare except as ward-heeler.

1886 T. Roosevelt, in Century Mag (Nov.) 78:
The "heelers" stand at the polls.
from the oxford dictionary of american political slang