In the mid-twentieth century, Chicago writers coined the term “clout” to mean political power and influence. This political usage probably was taken from the baseball expression “What a clout!” which described a powerful hit.

Dinner with Mayor Edward J. Kelly, 1938

By the 1970s, the query “Who's your clout?”—questioning one's ability to reach and persuade those in power—had found wide national usage beyond its Chicago origins.

Daniel Greene