Obama team overcomes 'New Hampshire's toughest challenge'

[Hope And Change]

Reid Cherlin photo The Rochester Times editor and crossword compiler John Nolan, left, is delighted to be presented with a solution to "New Hampshire's toughest challenge" by U.S. Senator and presidential hopeful Barack Obama — the first correct puzzle ever returned to the newspaper before a NH primary election, going back to 1992.


The lighter side of presidential politics: Obama team overcomes 'New Hampshire's toughest challenge'


By JOHN NOLAN
[e-mail]

Article Date: Thursday, December 27, 2007

ROCHESTER — Presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton may talk the talk, but it is her main Democratic rival in the upcoming New Hampshire presidential primary, Senator Barack Obama, who actually walks the walk when it comes to problem solving.

To be more specific, Clinton revealed to the International Herald Tribune in a web article dated Dec. 20 that her hidden talent was "crossword puzzles." But did she, or her campaign, respond to the personal invite to solve the December crossword published in The Rochester Times and Foster's Sunday Citizen — the puzzle subtitled "New Hampshire's Toughest Challenge"? Strangely, the answer is no.

By coincidence, on Dec. 20, after addressing a large rally at Rochester American Legion Post 7, Obama presented this writer with a correct solution to the puzzle, and in doing so, his campaign became the first and only team to solve it in five presidential primary election cycles — the written invite sent to the top eight Republican and top eight Democratic contenders made it clear that designating a crossword puzzle task force was perfectly legitimate.

Policy Coordinator Larry Strickling of Obama for America explained, in an e-mail to The Rochester Times, how his campaign moved into action.

"The puzzle invitation was plucked out of general correspondence by one of our staffers who, recognizing the level of intellectual ability that would be required to solve it, referred it to the campaign policy staff," said Strickling, adding that the Obama campaign has over 1,000 policy experts supporting the effort from around the country by serving on domestic and foreign affairs policy committees. (By coincidence, "foreign affairs" happened to be the answer to 1. down.)

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http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071227/GJNEWS04/647246708

[AtomicKitten]

1. That is extremely cool.

And a much needed respite from the grind.

Thanks for posting. :)

[Cha]

8. On so many levels!

That's a pretty cool marquee you have from the Grand Lake Theater, yourself.

[Uben]

2. I don't get it

What does a crossword puzzle have to do with anything, and why does it make news at all?

[sandnsea]

4. A three letter word

for mirth and merriment.

[Cha]

7. Sorry, you don't get it..maybe

you read the article..clue: that helps.

[SoxFan]

10. Just a little primary fun

Here in New Hampshire, people try to have a little fun with the primary. Last week, the culinary arts program at a local college had a Christmas cookie recipe contest. A tobacco shop in Portsmouth has a "cigar poll" of some sort. This crossword puzzle is the same sort of thing.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MethuenProgressive]

5. Another puff piece from Obama HQ.

I "Hope" they're paying you well!

[Cha]

9. Another turd drop

from hillary's haters.

[peoli]

6. 7 letter word for Loser

A.Hillary
B.Clinton

[Nailzberg]

11. The Clinton oppo team is looking through his recycling bin for unfinished Sudokus