The answers to the clues below will have something in common, though it may not be readily apparent.

1. Movie actor or actress' ultimate recognition
2. Auto junkyard offerings
3. The Good Witch of Oz
4. Sleeping Beauty's undoing
5. Clarification of controversial call in NFL, often
6. Cookies from home, for example, by mail
7. Folksy response to "Would you like some?" (Don't...)
8. Poker player's winning-hand gloat
9. Working closely together  (In....)
10. Home get-together featuring tight-seal food containers
11.  Loser's comment after a close election
12. "Possession is 9/10 of the law," on a schoolyard

Answers:

1. Academy Award
2. Spare parts
3. Glinda
4. Spindle
5. Instant replay
6. Care package
7. "Don't mind if I do."
8. "Read 'em and weep."
9. In tandem
10. Tupperware party
11. "I demand a recount."
12. "Finders, keepers"

HINTS to what the clues have in common:
1. Hidden in each clue is a three-letter abbreviation. There are three different abbreviations and they are all related.
2. The title of this puzzle is POLITICAL POSITIONS.

Answer:

Hidden in each clue is one of three abbreviations: DEM, REP, or IND - Democrat, Republican, or Independent:

1. acaDEMy award
2. spaRE Parts
3. glINDa
4. spINDle
5. instant REPlay
6. caRE Package
7. don't mIND if i do
8. reaD  'EM and weep
9. in tanDEM
10. tupperwaRE Party
11. iDEMand a recount
12. fINDers, keepers 

Credit: NY Times Crossword
Nancy Salomon and Harvey Estes
POLITICAL POSITIONS