10. Robert Zimmerman

It’s no wonder why Zimmerman has climbed up the Power List in 2009. The well-known PR guru and member of the Democratic National Committee got another bump this year when President Barack Obama took the oath of office and former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton was named Secretary of State. The connections will no doubt help Zimmerman/Edelson build its business portfolio. The camera loves this guy, too, as evidenced by his repeated TV appearances throughout campaign season. In last year’s Power List write-up, it was predicted that Zimmerman would be standing next to the president in the near future. OK, maybe it is a different president, but he is not too far removed from that circle. And as LI Dems continue their domination each election, Zimmerman continues to amass clout with the national party. And with those connections, maybe LI benefits. Once again, it’s how you use your power, right?