11.04.08 -- Cast

"If there is anyone out there who doubts that America is a place where anything is possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer…” -- President-elect Barack Hussein Obama.

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Cast Your Ballot, puzzle by Fred Piscop, editor Will Shortz

If you subscribe to The New York Times on-line Premium Crosswords, you are probably familiar with the monthly puzzle. For November, the title of the puzzle is Cast Your Ballot, and Mr. Piscop's puzzle utilizes the word “cast” in the following clues:

Across: 1. Politico Palin, who was once a sportscaster, SARAH; 12. Cast out, in a way, EXILE; 18. Iron-casting need, MOLD; 19. Man cast out of Eden, ADAM; 27. Cast material, PLASTER; 36. Winter forecast, SLEET; 38. Sportscast finale, often, RECAP; 40. Cast-of-thousands film, EPIC; 47. Part of a television broadcast, VIDEO; 50. Out-of-the-studio broadcast, REMOTE; 57. “The Outcasts of Poker Flat” writer Bret, HARTE; 66. Litter castoff, often, RUNT; 69. Cast pearls before SWINE; 72. Cast, as of color, TINGE; 74. Poet who wrote “Ah! What is not a dream by day / To him whose eyes are cast … “, POE.

Down: 1. Dreamcast game maker, SEGA; 6. “Cast Away” escape vehicle, RAFT; 7. Legendary sportscaster Mel ALLEN; 9. Cast-IRON stomach; 10. Cast off one’s kin, MOLT; 14. One in a cast of thousands, EXTRA; 20. It may be cast by a witch; SPELL; 28. Outcast in a colony; LEPER; 29. Cast ASIDE (discard); 30. George, who was typecast as Superman, REEVES; 32. Where to cast a net perhaps, SEA; 33. Was part of a cast, ACTED; 41. Webcast, gear, for short, CAM; 51. Pollster’s forecast, TREND; 55. Part of a television broadcast, AUDIO; 57. William of “Broadcast News”, HURT; 61. Record for future broadcast, TAPE; 66. Legendary sportscaster Barber, RED.

Notable: Shortzesque clues for 21A. Cast aspersions on, TAINT and 52A. Cast aspersions on, SLANDER; and by itself, 31A. “The die is cast” speaker, CAESAR.

...and yes, the vote was cast!

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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