I find it a bit amazing that neither McCain's name, nor Palin's name (unless it is referring to Monty Python alum Michael) appears in the Times puzzle. But, there you have it. Wilk gives us his findings but tries to make light of the whole thing.
According to the puzzle database maintained by Cruciverb.com, ever since that game-changing day in 2005, OBAMA has appeared regularly as an answer in New York Times crossword puzzles. With its wonderfully convenient alternating series of commonly used vowels and consonants, OBAMA has been the answer to the clues “Senator who wrote ‘Dreams From My Father,’” “Future senator who delivered the 2004 Democratic convention keynote address” and “Presidential candidate born in Hawaii.”
But what about MCCAIN? Shockingly, not once has MCCAIN been an answer in a crossword in the New York Times, The Washington Post or the Los Angeles Times. No MCCAIN, no JOHNMCCAIN, no SENATORMCCAIN, not even his most recent sobriquet, the presidential-sounding JOHNSMCCAINIII.
Wilk also found a few Biden entries but no Sarah Palin additions.
Now, Wilk is trying to claim that this is all because Obama has the luck of having so many vowels in his name an idea that seems plausible on some level. But, this claim is not satisfying in the long run. After all, crossword puzzles do, here and there, feature words without a satisfying number of vowels in them!
No, it looks pretty plain that OBAMA is a magical word for the NYT puzzle makers. It looks like "150% in the tank" is the answer for #1 up AND down!
(Photo credit: nystore.com)
