| 100% | VETTING | 7 | Deep dive on a political candidate |
| 54% | GEEKS | 5 | Does a deep dive on a topic, with "out" |
| 47% | BACKS | 5 | Endorses, as a political candidate |
| 47% | BACKS | 5 | Supports, as a political candidate |
| 46% | ENDORSE | 7 | Publicly support, as a political candidate |
| 46% | ENDORSED | 8 | Vouched for, as a political candidate |
| 46% | RUN | 3 | Be a political candidate |
| 45% | MOCKDEBATE | 10 | Preparation for a political candidate |
| 45% | VOTE | 4 | Word on a political button |
| 45% | BLUE | 4 | Democratic, on a political map |
| 45% | OPPO | 4 | Info on a political rival |
| 45% | RUNNINGMATE | 11 | Partner on a political ticket |
| 45% | OPPO | 4 | Intel on a political rival |
| 45% | OPPO | 4 | Research on a political rival, briefly |
| 45% | OPPO | 4 | ___ research (info on a political adversary) |
| 44% | IFELECTED | 9 | Start of a political candidate's promise |
| 44% | ISSUES | 6 | Aspects of a political candidate's platform |
| 44% | OPPO | 4 | Research on a political rival, for short |
| 44% | TRENCH | 6 | Deep ditch on a battlefield |
| 43% | OPPO | 4 | ___ research, source of "dirt" on a political rival |
| 43% | OPPO | 4 | Dig dirt on a political rival, for short |
| 43% | RUT | 3 | Deep track on a dirt road |
| 43% | DECIDES | 7 | Settles on a candidate |
| 42% | CSPAN | 5 | A political debate might be on this |
| 42% | LAPEL | 5 | Where a political candidate might wear an American flag pin |
| 41% | STAR | 4 | Item on a diva's door |
| 41% | METANALYSIS | 11 | Deep dive into the statistics of a NY slugger? |
| 40% | CHECKEREDPAST | 13 | Liability for a political candidate ... as depicted four times in this puzzle? |
| 40% | OPPO | 4 | ___ research (dirt on a rival, in political lingo) |
| 40% | INSIGHT | 7 | A deep understanding based on introspection |