Crossword puzzle clue "sports implement often made from circled letters"

Sports implement often made from [circled letters]

With the circled letters, large but not often vocal voting bloc

It's often unaccounted for ... or a hint to this puzzle's circled letters

[See circled letters]

Part 1 of a quip by the writer named in the circled letters

Lincoln's description of pre-Civil War America ... or a hint to the circled letters

Somewhat suspect (and a hint to what can be found by connecting the circled letters in alphabetical order)

Blog comment format usually interpreted as the word spelled by eight aptly circled puzzle letters