Who's ahead and who's not in campaign coverage, so to speak

HORSERACE

["**Hint:** Think of a term used in politics to describe a close competition, much like a literal race with animals.\n\nThis hint guides the solver toward the metaphorical use of the word in political contexts while avoiding direct repetition of the original clue. It also subtly references the \"race\" aspect of the answer without giving away \"horse.\""]

Certainly! Here's a clear and concise explanation of the clue and answer: **Clue:** "Who's ahead and who's not in campaign coverage, so to speak" **Answer:** "HORSERACE" **Explanation:** This clue uses a metaphorical reference to political campaign coverage, where the term "horse race" is often used to describe the competitive nature of elections—focusing on who is leading ("ahead") and who is trailing ("not ahead"). The phrase "so to speak" signals that the answer is a figurative expression rather than a literal one. Additionally, "horse race" can be broken down into "horse" (a homophone for "hoarse," meaning a rough or strained voice, though not directly relevant here) and "race," reinforcing the idea of competition. However, the primary connection is the idiomatic use of "horse race" in political journalism to describe the ups and downs of a campaign. Thus, the answer cleverly ties the literal meaning of a race involving horses to the figurative "race" of a political campaign.