Endgame . “The pursuit of the ultimate outcome. It could be an electoral victory, pushing a bill through Congress, or, just as often, blocking legislation. The term derives from chess; it’s the period when only a handful of playing pieces remain on the board. Although William Safire says it was coined in 1881, it’s become more and more popular — in addition to politics, it’s been the title of songs (R.E.M. and others), albums (Megadeth, Rise Against, and others), books, TV shows and movies. Let’s face it: It sounds so much cooler than ‘at the end.'”  

— From “Dog Whistles, Walk-Backs & Washington Handshakes. Decoding the Jargon, Slang, and Bluster of American Political Speech” by Chuck McCutcheon and David Mark