power base

noun

1. a source of authority or influence, especially in politics, founded on support by an organized body of voters, ethnic minority, economic class, etc.:

   His election as governor gives him a power base for seeking the presidency.

Word History and Origins

Origin of power base¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Dostum would be a central player, shifting alliances constantly from his power base in Jowzjan.

From The Daily Beast

Sinhala nationalists form their power base, and they must be fed.

From The Daily Beast

AQAP has taken advantage of the chaos to build a growing power base in the south outside Aden.

From The Daily Beast

Even amid the pressure of maintaining such an unstable power base, Paul recalls an unflappable leader.

From The Daily Beast

Belonging to the Alawite minority—merely 12 percent of the population—he built a power base of mainly his own clan.

From The Daily Beast

With his power base firmly established, Ceausescu acted to fully disassociate his regime from the Gheorghiu-Dej era.

From Project Gutenberg

Zhivkov managed to avert the attempted coup d'etat and afterward strengthened his power base within the party.

From Project Gutenberg