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美国会参议院选情激烈

Next month, Americans will elect a president and a new Congress. The political make-up of Congress will help determine whether the next president can enact¹ his agenda in the next four years.

下个月，美国人将选举出下一任总统和新一届的国会。美国国会的组成将决定下任总统能否在第二个四年任期内执行他的政治主张。

Republicans are expected to retain their House majority, but control of the Senate, where Democrats² currently have a majority, is in question. Some of the pivotal contests include a hard-fought Senate race in the state of Virginia.

预期共和党将保持在众议院的多数席位，但是能否控制民主党占多数的参议院将是个问题。一些关键的参议院议员席位之争将在维吉尼亚州上演。

Republican George Allen is scouring³ Virginia for votes, including the state’s Asian-American community. His core message: boosting the economy.

共和党参议员候选人乔治.艾伦正在争取维吉尼亚州的选票，包括亚裔美国人社区的选民。他的核心主张就是“振兴经济”。

“I just want to make sure that every American, regardless of background or ethnicity or religious persuasion⁴, has that equal opportunity to succeed. That is the promise of America,” said Allen.

艾伦说：“我只是希望确保无论任何背景、种族、宗教信仰，每个美国人都有平等的成功的机会。这是美国的承诺。”

Economy, Jobs are central focus

Democratic rival Tim Kaine sounds a similar theme at a Jewish community center.

他的民主党对手蒂姆.凯恩在犹太社区中心发表讲话。

“I am a huge believer in ‘win the talent race, win the economic race.’ Education, workforce⁵ development and immigration reform are the core of winning the talent race,” said Kaine.

凯恩说：“我深信可以赢得人才竞赛和经济竞赛。教育、员工发展和移民改革都是赢得人才竞赛的核心。”

Both former Virginia governors, Allen and Kaine are competing to fill the seat of retiring Senator Jim Webb, who beat Allen in 2006. The focus of this year’s senate contest mirrors the presidential race, according to political analyst⁶ Phil Wallach.

艾伦和凯恩都曾任维吉尼亚州长。他们在竞争即将退休的参议员吉姆.维博的席位，维博在2006年选举中击败艾伦。政治分析专家菲尔.沃拉克说，今年的参议员竞选之争是美国总统选举的投射。

“Nationally and in Virginia, it is jobs, jobs, jobs. All the candidates want to say that their party has a recipe for bringing back jobs,” said Wallach.

沃拉克说：“对全国和维吉尼亚州而言，都是工作、工作、工作。所有的候选人都想表达他们的党有办法创造更多的工作。”

One third of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate are being contested. Republicans need to gain four to take control.

今年要选出参议院100个议席的三分之一。共和党需要取得四个议席来控制参议院。

Once confident of victory, Republican candidates like Todd Akin⁷ of Missouri and Richard Mourdock of Indiana have hurt their own chances by making widely-criticized comments on rape⁸ and abortion⁹.

共和党候选人、密苏里州的托德.阿肯和印第安纳州的理查德.默多克，对强奸和堕胎议题的评论招致广泛批评，已经损害他们当选的机会。

Some Democrats, meanwhile, have run stronger-than-expected campaigns. In Massachusetts, polls currently favor Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren over Republican Senator Scott Brown.

同时，一些民主党候选人的竞选情况好于预期。民调显示马萨诸塞州的民主党挑战者伊丽莎白.沃伦比现任共和党参议员斯科特.布朗更受欢迎。

In Virginia, polls show an even race between Kaine and Allen.

在维吉尼亚州，民调显示艾伦和凯恩旗鼓相当。

“It is clearly going to be an election that comes down to the wire,” said Wallach.

沃拉克说：“很明显两位候选人的参议员席位之争将会持续到最后一刻。”

Virginia Republicans like retired¹⁰ military officer William Hoffat said they are energized¹¹.

维吉尼亚共和党人退休军官威廉.霍夫说，他们干劲十足。

“The values of George Allen and the values of Mitt¹² Romney echo with immigrant Americans: hard work and making it in this country,” said Hoffat.

霍夫说：“乔治.艾伦和罗姆尼的价值体现了美国移民的价值：努力工作，在这个国家取得成功。”

Kaine supporter Sheila Levine said President Barack Obama, if re-elected, will need Democrats to work with in Congress.

凯恩的支持者希拉.莱文说，如果总统奥巴马再次当选，将会需要民主党在国会的合作。

“We are so polarized right now, and maybe if we can get some more Democrats in Congress, maybe Obama can get something done,” said Levine.

莱文说：“现在我们是如此的两极化，如果国会有更多民主党人，奥巴马也许可以做成一些事情。”

Kaine is pledging to work with members of both parties, to find common ground he has said is missing in Washington. Allen said this race could well decide the balance of power in the Senate.

候选人凯恩承诺和双方政党合作，找到他所说的在华盛顿已经消失的共同点。艾伦说，这次选举将决定参议院两党的力量平衡。

“However goes Virginia, will go America and our future,” said Allen.

艾伦说：“维吉尼亚州的选择也将是美国的选择和我们的未来。”

Indeed, voters in this one state could have a major impact on the nation’s political direction for years to come.

的确，维吉尼亚州的选民可能会对美国的政治走向产生重要影响。