VOA标准英语2008年-Kerry Endorses Obama, Richardson Drops Out of U

By Jim Malone
Washington
10 January 2008

Senator Barack Obama picked up a potentially important endorsement¹ Thursday in his campaign for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination³. VOA National correspondent Jim Malone has the latest on the U.S. election campaign from Washington.

Obama won the endorsement of Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, the Democratic Party's presidential nominee⁴ in 2004. Kerry's endorsement came at an Obama rally in South Carolina.

"He has a superb talent, as all of you know, to communicate the best of our hopes and aspirations⁵ for America and for the world," said Kerry. "And that is why Barack Obama has the greatest potential to lead a transformation⁶, not just a transition."

South Carolina hosts a Democratic primary on January 26 and is now shaping up as a key battleground between Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton, fresh off her victory in the New Hampshire primary.

Obama told supporters he is grateful for Kerry's help.

"I want to thank John Kerry for his support in this campaign, but more importantly, for his service to this nation," he said.

Obama and Clinton are engaged in a tight, state-by-state contest to win delegates in the primaries and caucuses⁸ who will select the party nominee for president at the Democratic nominating convention in late August.

Kerry's endorsement could give Obama a boost in the wake of his narrow loss to Clinton on Tuesday.

 

"It keeps Obama's momentum⁹ going," said Dottie Lynch, a political analyst¹⁰ for CBS News. "He lost the New Hampshire primary, but this says a major figure in the Democratic Party still supports him. And for someone who just lost a primary, that is really important."

In endorsing¹¹ Obama, Kerry bypassed his 2004 vice⁷ presidential running mate, former North Carolina Senator John Edwards. Experts say Edwards is looking for a good showing in South Carolina to stay in the race.

Meanwhile, another Democrat² is leaving the presidential race. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson withdrew after disappointing fourth place finishes in both the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary.

"We made our case for change, but guided by an experienced hand," said Richardson. "We made our case for foreign policy with principles and realism."

The next major test for the remaining Democratic candidates is the Nevada party caucuses on January 19.

On the Republican side, the focus is on next Tuesday's Michigan primary where Senator John McCain of Arizona hopes to build on his win in the New Hampshire primary.

McCain faces a strong challenge in Michigan from former Massachusetts Governor Mitt¹² Romney and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

Romney hopes to do well in his native state where his father, George Romney, was governor. Romney is struggling after second place finishes in both Iowa and New Hampshire.

Huckabee is also focusing on the January 19 Republican primary in South Carolina where he hopes to win the support of religious conservatives, the same group who helped propel him to victory in Iowa.

1 endorsement   

n.背书；赞成，认可，担保；签(注)，批注

参考例句：

• We are happy to give the product our full endorsement.我们很高兴给予该产品完全的认可。
• His presidential campaign won endorsement from several celebrities.他参加总统竞选得到一些社会名流的支持。

2 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

3 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

4 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

5 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。

6 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

7 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

8 caucuses   

n.（政党决定政策或推举竞选人的）核心成员( caucus的名词复数 )；决策干部；决策委员会；秘密会议

参考例句：

• Republican caucuses will happen in about 410 towns across Maine. 共和党团会议选举将在缅因州的约410个城镇进行。 来自互联网

9 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

10 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

11 endorsing   

v.赞同( endorse的现在分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• Yet Communist leaders are also publicly endorsing religion in an unprecedented way. 不过，共产党领导层对宗教信仰的公开认可也是以前不曾有过的。 来自互联网
• Connecticut Independent Senator Joseph Lieberman is endorsing Republican Senator John McCain. 康涅狄格州独立派参议员约瑟夫。列波曼将会票选共和议员约翰。麦凯恩。 来自互联网

12 mitt   

n.棒球手套，拳击手套，无指手套；vt.铐住，握手

参考例句：

• I gave him a baseball mitt for his birthday.为祝贺他的生日，我送给他一只棒球手套。
• Tom squeezed a mitt and a glove into the bag.汤姆把棒球手套和手套都塞进袋子里。