2006年VOA标准英语-Americans Go to Polls in Legislative, Local Ele

By Paula Wolfson
Washington
07 November 2006
 
watch US Election Eve report
 

A woman shows her support Republican congressional candidate Max Burns, Nov. 6, 2006 during a campaign stop in Savannah, Georgia  
  
American voters cast ballots¹ Tuesday in congressional, state and local elections. The results will have a big impact on the last two years of the Bush administration.

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The stakes in this election are incredibly high, with control of the U.S. Congress hanging in the balance.

In the weeks leading up to Election Day, polls showed most Americans want Democrats² to hold the majority in the legislature. But in the final days of the campaign, with all House seats and one-third of the Senate contested, many races tightened³.

Leaving nothing to chance, President Bush took to the road on behalf of Republican candidates, visiting 10 states in five days. In the final hours, he spent his time energizing⁴ the Republican base. "Republicans are going to turn out. It is going to be a great victory of November 7th!," he said.

President Bush speaks at a campaign rally in Pensacola, Florida, Nov. 6, 2006   
  
He focused his efforts in states where Republicans are traditionally strong. Aides said his message was designed to reach far beyond the party faithful gathered in arenas⁵, parks and airport hangars for last-minute campaign rallies

He urged them to vote, and to encourage others to do the same. "And as you are going into those polls remember, if you want your taxes low, vote Republican. And as you go to the polls remember we are at war and if you want this country to do everything in its power to protect you, and at the same time lay the foundation of peace for generations to come, vote Republican," he said.

The president sounded upbeat on election eve. But so did the top campaign strategist for Senate Democrats, Senator Charles Schumer of New York. "We feel very, very good for a couple of reasons. First, Democrats are more enthusiastic about voting than Republicans. Fifty two percent of Democrats say they are more enthusiastic about voting than usual. Thirty nine percent of Republicans say they are," he said.

Democrats hope that enthusiasm will translate into massive party gains in Congress. They need a net gain of 15 seats to take control of the House of Representatives, and six seats in the Senate.

Charles Schumer  
  
Polls indicate they have a good chance of becoming the majority party in the 435-member House. But Senator Schumer acknowledges it will be much tougher to take over the 100-seat Senate. "We have never said we are going to take control of the Senate. We have said we are on the edge. That's where we are. I said the other day what I feel: the likelihood of four, five or six seats is greater than three or seven," he said.

Although congressional races are often won and lost on local and state issues, public opinion surveys show this year Iraq is the leading concern on the mind of the electorate⁶.

Senator Schumer maintains the American people are hungry for change. But the president has been telling voters that the Democrats have no plans for dealing⁷ with the toughest problems facing the country, and, he says, Republicans have proven they can build the economy and keep America safe.

1 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 tightened   

收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧

参考例句：

• The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke. 系船的绳子突然绷断了。
• His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again. 他的食指扣住扳机，然后又松开了。

4 energizing   

v.给予…精力，能量( energize的现在分词 )；使通电

参考例句：

• a refreshing and energizing fruit drink 提神并增加体能的果汁饮料
• The time required after energizing a device, before its rated output characteristics begin to apply. 从设备通电到它开始提供额定输出特性之间所需的时间。 来自辞典例句

5 arenas   

表演场地( arena的名词复数 )； 竞技场； 活动或斗争的场所或场面； 圆形运动场

参考例句：

• Demolition derbies are large-scale automobile rodeos that take place in big arenas. 撞车比赛指的是在很大的竞技场上举行的大型汽车驾驶技术表演。
• Are there areas of privacy in the most public of arenas? 在绝大部分公开的场合中存在需要保护隐私的领域吗？

6 electorate   

n.全体选民；选区

参考例句：

• The government was responsible to the electorate.政府对全体选民负责。
• He has the backing of almost a quarter of the electorate.他得到了几乎1/4选民的支持。

7 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。