Crossword Genius

Candidate originally called, having zero time (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

nominee

'candidate' is the definition.
(I know that candidate can be written as nominee)

'originally called having zero time' is the wordplay.
'originally called' becomes 'nee' (written before eg a maiden name).
'having' indicates putting letters inside.
'zero' becomes 'O' (O resembles 0).
'time' becomes 'min' (short for minute).
'o'+'min'='omin'
'nee' placed around 'omin' is 'NOMINEE'.

(Other definitions for nominee that I've seen before include "One put forward as a candidate" , "somebody put up" , "Person standing for office" , "He's put forward" , "One up for a job" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.
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