Barack Obama claimed the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, Tuesday, after winning a majority of delegates to the party's nominating convention, which will be held in August. Obama claimed victory as the primary election season came to an end, with contests in Montana and South Dakota.
美国联邦参议员奥巴马星期二宣布他本人获得民主党总统候选人资格。此前他赢得了该党8月即将召开的提名党代会中超过半数代表的支持。奥巴马宣布胜利是在蒙塔那州和南达科他州这最后两个州初选结束之际，也标志着全国初选季节的结束。
Even before the Montana polls had closed, the Illinois senator had gained a clear majority of delegates to the nominating convention as, one by one, uncommitted super delegates - party officials and elected leaders - moved over to his column.
甚至在蒙塔那州的投票站还没有关闭的时候，奥巴马这位来自伊利诺伊州的参议员已经明显地获得了为提名举行的党代表大会中超过半数代表的支持。超级代表们，也就是民主党内的官员和民选官员一个又一个地表态支持奥巴马。
He spoke to supporters in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the site of the Republican Party's September convention.
明尼苏达州的圣保罗是共和党9月即将召开党代会的地点，奥巴马在这里对支持者讲话时说：
"Tonight, we mark the end of one historic journey with the beginning of another, a journey that will bring a new and better day to America," he said. "Because of you, tonight I can stand here and say that I will be the Democratic nominee for the president of the United States of America."
“今晚，我们结束了一个历史性的旅程，同时我们进入了一个崭新的，将给美国带来一个全新的、更好的日子的旅程。因为有了你们，今晚我可以站在这里说，我将荣幸地成为民主党推选的美国总统候选人。”
The 46-year-old first-term senator is the first African American to become the presumptive presidential nominee of a major American party. He fought a bruising campaign against New York Senator Hillary Clinton, through more than 50 primaries and caucuses in U.S. states and territories.
奥巴马现年46岁，他目前担任一生中的第一任参议员。他是第一个预计获得美国主要政党提名为总统候选人的非洲裔美国人。他和来自纽约州的参议员希拉里.克林顿进行了惨烈的竞争，经过了美国各地50个州的党内初选和基层党团选举的磨炼。
Senator Clinton, addressing her supporters in New York, did not concede the race.
克林顿参议员在纽约对她的支持者说，她在这次竞选中还没有认输。
"Now, the question is, where do we go from here? And, given how far we've come and where we need to go as a party, it's a question I don't take lightly," she said. "This has been a long campaign and I will be making no decisions tonight."
她说：“现在的问题是，我们向哪里迈进？作为一个 政党来说，走过这么长的路程以后应该向什么方向前进，我不会轻率处理这个问题。这是一场漫长的竞选，今晚我还不会作出决定。”
She says she will consult with supporters and party officials before making her decision.
克林顿说她将咨询支持者和党内官员，然后再做决定。
There have been harsh words exchanged during the campaign, but Senator Clinton said she was honored to compete against Barack Obama and to call him friend.
在竞选过程中，出现过唇枪舌剑式的交锋，但是克林顿参议员表示，她很荣幸和奥巴马竞争，也很荣幸地称他为朋友。
Senator Obama also had praise for his rival.
奥巴马参议员也赞扬了他的对手。
"When we transform our energy policy and lift our children out of poverty, it will be because she worked to help make it happen," he said. "Our party and our country are better off because of her and I am a better candidate for having had the honor to compete with Hillary Rodham Clinton."
他说：“当我们辩论能源政策，探讨解除儿童贫困的议题时，都是因为克林顿的努力才就这些议题进行了讨论。我们的党和我们的国家因为有了她而更出色，我因为有幸和希拉里.克林顿参议员竞争，才得以成为一个更好的候选人。”
Each candidate has earned impressive primary and caucus wins in a hard-fought campaign season, and to the end both candidates scored victories. Obama won Tuesday in Montana and Clinton took South Dakota. Some Democrats are hoping for a so-called "dream ticket" that would pair the two, with Obama as presidential nominee and Clinton as vice-presidential running mate.
在激烈的竞选季节当中， 双方在初选和基层党团选举中都获得了令人印象深刻的成绩，初选结束的时候，双方都获得了胜利。星期二奥巴马赢得了蒙塔那州，克林顿则在南达科他州取胜。一些民主党人希望形成一个梦幻组合，让奥巴马和克林顿成为竞选搭档，奥巴马作为总统候选人，克林顿作为副总统候选人。
The presumed Republican candidate, Arizona Senator John McCain, set his sights on the general election in remarks to his supporters Tuesday in Louisiana. Noting that Obama has campaigned on the theme of change, McCain said Americans are distressed with many changes they now see, from high energy and food prices to job losses.
共和党预期推选的总统候选人、来自亚利桑纳州的麦凯恩参议员星期二在路易斯安纳州对支持者的演说中，将目光放在了总统大选上面。麦凯恩说，奥巴马竞选以改变为主题，不过，美国人已经被他们经历的很多变化搞得烦恼不堪，从能源和食品价格的攀升，到失业不断地增长。
"This is indeed a change election. No matter who wins this election, the direction of this country is going to change dramatically," he said. "But the choice is between the right change and the wrong change, between going forward and going backward."
他说：“这次选举的确是变化的选举。不论谁赢得大选，这个国家的方向都会发生明显变化。但是这里有正确和错误的变化，有前进和倒退的变化。”
McCain promised sweeping reform of government if he is elected.
麦凯恩承诺，如果当选总统，他将对政府进行全面改革。 |