But by virtue of their sheer numbers, the Liberal Democrats will dominate the little-known politician now heading the country.

There are never incumbents in the race, and voters are always being introduced to new politicians, so they often choose between two little-known politicians every four years.

Mr. Reed said he planned to hire a staff of as many as 10 people and would generally favor little-known, up-and-coming politicians and charge them reasonable rates.

He appointed a little-known politician, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, to be prime minister with the job of running day-to-day government affairs.

Mr. Collor, a little-known politician at the time of his upset victory in 1989, ran on a clean-government platform.

As a little-known politician, he remained silent until his candidacy was approved before exhibiting his policies.

There is much to like about Mr. McGreevey, a little-known but energetic politician who came from behind to win the Democratic primary in September.

They say the dollar's weakness has resulted not only from economic causes, but also from foreign apprehension over the rise of a little-known politician from an obscure state.

A little-known politician on the national stage, he has been governor since 1997 of the Donetsk region, a conservative stronghold, where politics and business have been chaotic.

The British public had had enough, and the elections of 1979 returned the Conservatives led by a little-known politician named Margaret Thatcher.