| 100% | SARAHPALIN | 10 | 18-Across's presidential running mate in 2008: 2 wds. |
| 49% | SARAH | 5 | John's running mate in 2008 |
| 49% | RALPHNADER | 10 | Candidate who had Matt Gonzalez as his running mate in his 2008 presidential campaign |
| 48% | TRAVISBICKLE | 12 | 18-Across's character in "Taxi Driver": 2 wds. |
| 44% | KEMP | 4 | Running mate in the 1996 presidential election |
| 43% | JOHNMCCAIN | 10 | Republican senator who ran for president in 2008: 2 wds. |
| 42% | MARISATOMEI | 11 | Actress who played an exotic dancer in 2008's "The Wrestler": 2 wds. |
| 42% | EDWARDNORTON | 12 | Actor who played the Hulk in 2008's "The Incredible Hulk": 2 wds. |
| 41% | TURNTAIL | 8 | Run away in embarrassment: 2 wds. |
| 40% | BOSTONCELTICS | 13 | NBA champions who appeared on Wheaties boxes in 2008: 2 wds. |
| 40% | THEBLUESTEYE | 12 | 18-Across's first novel, published in 1970: 3 wds. |
| 40% | ERICROBERTS | 11 | Lesser-known older brother of Julia, who was featured in 2008's "The Dark Knight": 2 wds. |
| 39% | AMYWINEHOUSE | 12 | "Back to Black" singer who won five Grammy Awards in 2008: 2 wds. |
| 39% | JANETJACKSON | 12 | "Rhythm Nation" singer who received the GLAAD Vanguard Award in 2008: 2 wds. |
| 39% | BLEEDINGLOVE | 12 | Leona Lewis song that hit #1 three separate times in 2008: 2 wds. |
| 39% | DWIGHTHOWARD | 12 | Tallest player to win the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, in 2008: 2 wds. |
| 39% | SUSANSARANDON | 13 | 18-Across and 43-Across actress who plays Carla's mother in "A Bad Moms Christmas" (2 wds.) |
| 39% | MEDALOFFREEDOM | 14 | Presidential honor awarded to 18-Across in 2012 by Barack Obama: 3 wds. |
| 39% | WARRENSAPP | 10 | Former NFL player who appeared on "Dancing With the Stars" in 2008: 2 wds. |
| 39% | JENNIFERLOPEZ | 13 | "I'm Real" singer who became a mother of twins in 2008: 2 wds. |
| 39% | EDMCMAHON | 9 | Johnny Carson sidekick who nearly lost his home to foreclosure in 2008: 2 wds. |
| 38% | GARYOLDMAN | 10 | "Darkest Hour" actor who voices a Russian sergeant in 2008's "Call of Duty: World at War": 2 wds. |
| 38% | BLACKSABBATH | 12 | 18-Across's band: 2 wds. |
| 38% | RICKYMARTIN | 11 | "Livin' la Vida Loca" singer who became a father of twins in 2008: 2 wds. |
| 38% | OKLAHOMACITY | 12 | "___ Thunder," basketball club that paid 3 million Euros for Nenad Krstic in 2008: 2 wds. |
| 38% | ALANCUMMING | 11 | Scottish-born actor on "The Good Wife" who became a US citizen in 2008: 2 wds. |
| 38% | KIMCATTRALL | 11 | "Sex and the City" star who helped define "fabulous" on "Sesame Street" in 2008: 2 wds. |
| 37% | OJSIMPSON | 9 | Former football star found guilty in 2008 of criminal conduct: 2 wds. |
| 37% | CLOUDATLAS | 10 | 2012 film starring 18-Across in multiple roles: 2 wds. |
| 37% | CLIFFHUXTABLE | 13 | Lead role in 18-Across: 2 wds. |