A political ploy is a strategy used by politicians to gain an advantage in an election or to influence public opinion. The term 'SMEAR' (5 letters) is often used to describe a political ploy that involves spreading false or misleading information about an opponent. A 'SMEAR tactic' (11 letters) is a specific type of political ploy that involves the use of negative information to discredit an opponent. A 'campaign promise' (15 letters) is another type of political ploy, where a politician makes a promise to the public in order to gain their support.