Crossword Genius

Michigan radical stuck in the mud (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mired

'stuck in the mud' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'michigan radical' is the wordplay.
'michigan' becomes 'mi' (state letters).
'radical' becomes 'red' (red can mean a communist).
'mi'+'red'='MIRED'

(Other definitions for mired that I've seen before include "Sunk in deep mud" , "Stuck in the mud" , "covered in muck" , "Bogged down" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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