| A crossword editor has to be very careful when changing one--unlike this puzzle's editor, who was careless four times herein |
| Organization whose 2008 endorsement John McCain did not reciprocate |
| First word across in the first-ever crossword (1913) and the first of a dozen appearances of the word in this puzzle's grid, written word search-style (left, right, down, and diagonally) ... Can you f |
| All, e.g., for this answer's last six letters? |
| Activity suggested by this puzzle's theme entries |
| Cheapened |
| Annual cause of losing an hr.'s sleep hidden in this puzzle's 10 longest answers |
| Partially obscured (and a hint to this puzzle's theme) |
| Alternative title of this puzzle, in view of what can be placed in front of the answers to the 10 asterisked clues |
| Candidate's concern |
| Video game that comes out today (9/9/09), whose songs/levels are referenced in this puzzle, with "The |
| Alternate title for this crossword? |
| All-out fight waged by candidates in commercials |
| Agriculture giant celebrating its 175th anniversary this year |
| Didn't just nosh |
| Asleep ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| Alternative words used as alternatives for each other in this puzzle's theme answers |
| ___ Awards (show hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood this year): Abbr. |
| A genus of shell-less snails was named after this noblewoman |
| Give Schweppes Ginger ___ try!" (brilliant soda slogan I just made up) (this clue dedicated to the great Merl Reagle, the master of saving weak entries; RIP, Merl) |
| Contract extras, and read differently, a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| Long-shot candidate |
| This (girl), to Brutus |
| Against a Vegas worker? (Surprise! Did you expect a clue about selling heirlooms?) |
| And so this foul vixen kept me broadcasting for years" response? |
| Behave!" ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| A scarab beetle with a heart-shaped mark on its wing covers was named after this adventurer |
| Sooner this, Sooner that ... can't you talk about any other subject?"? |
| Amazon tablet (Yeah, I probably should have included this as part of the theme, but I couldn't come up with a suitable answer.Sue me.) |
| Cheap trinkets |