Garrett said that because of the way the payroll tax was handled, the GOP has lost negotiating leverage to get budget cuts.

"It all depends on negotiating leverage and what the person brings."

Did Thomas really come close to playing in New York, or did he use the Knicks' interest in him for negotiating leverage?

An agent familiar with the casting said the open roles left the studio, Sony, "over a barrel" because the ticking clock gives the actors negotiating leverage.

For Mr. Sharon, who is not a religious man, the settlements have always been an instrument of security and of negotiating leverage.

That is, according to this analysis, he lets many factions contend, insisting their violence is beyond his reach as he relies upon it for negotiating leverage.

Weitzman disputed Puccio's assertion that Tyson had lost negotiating leverage.

In terms of negotiating leverage, that means poor Valentine is actually Moses on a mountain, lineup card in one hand, tablet in the other.

"I did support the program on the grounds that we needed negotiating leverage with the Soviets," he said.