Nouns

(n)stalking-horsea candidate put forward to divide the Opposition or to mask the true candidate
(n)pretext, stalking-horsesomething serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason
(n)stalking-horsescreen consisting of a figure of a horse behind which a hunter hides while stalking game
(n)stalking-horsea horse behind which a hunter hides while stalking game