Candidate is negative and explosive, to a point (7)
I believe the answer is:
nominee
'candidate' is the definition.
(I know that candidate can be written as nominee)
'negative and explosive to a point' is the wordplay.
'negative' becomes 'no' (no is a kind of negative).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'explosive' becomes 'mine' (e.g. a landmine).
'to a point' becomes 'e' (compass point).
'no'+'mine'+'e'='NOMINEE'
'is' is the link.
(Other definitions for nominee that I've seen before include "Person put forward" , "Candidate for office" , "he may shield one" , "Aspirant" , "figure entering field?" .)