11.06.12 — Election Day 2012

 

 

Tuesday, November 6, 2012 — Election Day

 

Puzzle by Erik Agard / Edited by Will Shortz

SECRET / BALLOT (1A. With 74-Across, voting system that affords anonymity .. Or the theme of this puzzle?), OBAMA / BIDEN and ROMNEY / RYAN in circled letters, found within GOD BLESS AMERICA (17A. Song sung by a patriotic politician), BEHIND THE SCENES (36A. How a director of campaign advertising works), RIGHT ON THE MONEY (45A. Exactly … like a conservative’s plan to lower taxes?) and PRESBYTERIANISM (65A. Religious believe of eight U.S. presidents) constitute the interrelated group of this timely Tuesday crossword.

 

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 7. Game in which the orange ghost is name Sue, not Clyde; 15. “Seinfeld” woman; 16. Heated disputes; 9. Jungle swinger; 20. F.D.R. or L.B. J.: Abbr.; 21. Vice president Gore and others; 22. And others, for short; 25. Stridex target, informally; 27. Blue stone; 31. Singer Damone; 33. ___ Party; 35. Old Italian coin; 41. Sought-after rock; 42. Rap’s Dr. ___; 43. However, briefly; 44. Turn-___; 49. Possible cause of brain freeze; 50. It’s seen off la cote de la France; 51. Subject of many a political scandal; 52. Rooms in una casa; 54. ___ Mahal; 56. College org. with a Color Guard; 59. The Cowboys, on scoreboards; 61. React with extreme disgust; 63. Louis XIV, e.g.; 71. Like no stone, for the meticulous; 72. Grand ___ Island; 73. Nuisance that keeps returning, in metaphor. — DOWN: 1. Genesis maker; 2. Alter altar plans, maybe; 3. Space ___; 4. Tease; 5. Blowup: Abbr.; 6. Cheesed (off); 7. James Stewart title character who goes to Washington; 8. ___ Na Na; 9. Mountain cat; 10. “Does that ring ___?”; 11. Event in which you may drive a hard bargain?; 12. Hosp. test; 13. This Week” airer; 14. Intelligence org.; 18. “___ who?!”; 23. Bird: Prefix; 24. Fancy chocolatier; 26. Choppers; 28. Assign, as blame; 29. Memorable 2011 hurricane; 30. Mouthing off; 32. PC insert; 34. Hearth residue; 38. London mayor Johnson; 37. Writer Jong; 38. German philosopher who wrote “The true is the whole”; 39. Fundamental belief; 40. One of the way up; 46. Fore!”; 47. “Julius Caesar,” for one; 48. Kitchen brand; 53. Buffalo player; 55. Pickle holder; 57. What a plea bargain obviates; 58. Vogue competitor, for short; 60. Loretta who sang Coal Miner’s Daughter”; 62. Pop’s Brothers ___, 64. “___ my wit’s end”; 65. Darts venue; 66. Biol. Class topic; 67. Tarmac fig.; 68. Number of years between censuses; 69. Like some baseball teams; 70. Senators’ org.