VOA标准英语10月-US Presidential Campaign Tone Becomes Increasingl

The U.S. presidential campaign has grown increasingly personal and negative in recent days, as public opinion polls show Democratic candidate Barack Obama moving into a lead over Republican John McCain. VOA National Correspondent Jim Malone has been monitoring the back and forth³ on the campaign trail and has more from Washington.

Both candidates have been campaigning in key battleground states - closely contested states that could tip the election one way or the other on November 4.

Grim economic news appears to be hurting Republican John McCain. Most polls give Democrat¹ Barack Obama a consistent lead with less than four weeks to go until Election Day.
　

Senator John McCain in Waukesha, Wisconsin, 09 Oct 2008

Increasingly, Senator McCain is trying to make Senator Obama the main issue in the campaign, as he did during a recent rally in Pennsylvania.

"In short, who is ready to lead in a time of trouble and danger for our country? Who will put our country first? And which candidate's experience in government and in life makes him a more reliable leader for our country," asked John McCain.

The McCain campaign has raised questions about Obama's background and past associations.

A favorite target is William Ayers, a former member of the anti-Vietnam War Weather Underground group. Ayers lives near Obama in Chicago and hosted a political reception for Obama 13 years ago.

The Obama campaign says the two men are not close. But Senator McCain told Fox News that voters should know more about their relationship.

"It's about Senator Obama being candid² and straightforward⁴ with the American people about their relationship," he said. "He has dismissed it by saying he was just a guy in the neighborhood. We know it was much more than that. Let's reveal all the details of that relationship and then the American people can make a judgment⁵."

McCain is also under increasing pressure from supporters to go after Obama personally and remind voters of Obama's ties with his controversial former pastor⁶, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright.

One voter challenged both McCain and his vice⁷ presidential running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, during a recent rally in Wisconsin.

"When you have an Obama, [Democratic House or Representatives Speaker Nancy] Pelosi and the rest of the hooligans up there who are going to run this country, we have got to have our head examined! It is time that you two [McCain and running mate Sarah Palin] are representing us, and we are mad! So go get them," said the voter.

Democrats⁸ have urged Obama to fight back against the attacks, mindful of the negative attacks ads that helped undermine the 2004 Democratic nominee⁹ for president, Senator John Kerry.
　

Senator Barack Obama campaigning in Cincinnati, Ohio, 09 Oct 2008

But during a recent rally in Ohio, Obama kept his focus squarely on the economy.

"I can take four more weeks of John McCain's attacks, but America can't take four more years of John McCain's-George Bush's policies," he said. "We can't afford four more years of the same!"

But Obama has launched his share of negative attacks.

He reminded supporters in Ohio about McCain's decision to suspend his presidential campaign to work on a congressional economic bailout package shortly before the first presidential debate.

"I don't think we can afford that kind of erratic¹⁰ and uncertain leadership in these uncertain times," he said. "We need steady leadership in the White House. We need a president we can trust in times of crisis. And that is why I am running for president of the United States!"

Both campaigns have also taken to the television and radio airwaves and the Internet with attack ads.

McCain campaign ads question Obama's policies and seek to counter Democratic attacks on McCain.

"Obama's stem cell attack: not true. Barack Obama: he promised better. He lied. I'm John McCain and I approved this message," says one ad.

A study by the University of Wisconsin in Madison found that most McCain ads last week attacked Obama, while only 34 percent of Obama spots directly targeted McCain.

Nevertheless, experts say both sides are firing negative ad salvos with abandon, including the Obama campaign.

"With no plan to lift our economy up, John McCain wants to tear Barack Obama down with smears¹¹ that have been proven false. I'm Barack Obama and I approved this message," says one ad.

Experts say the shift to a negative tone late in the presidential campaign is predictable, but it may not produce the desired results.

"McCain is trying to change the subject and he is using all the materials at his disposal," said Larry Sabato, who directs the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. "But probably this isn't going to work."

Sabato adds that negative campaigning is not likely to alter an environment where voters are most concerned with the troubled domestic economy and want the candidates to present solutions.

"There are small bore [minor] elections and there are big issue, big change elections,' he said. "This is a big issue, big change election. And in that sort of election, it doesn't matter terribly that these kinds of attacks are being made because that is not how the vast majority of votes will be determined¹²."

Experts say McCain's best chance to alter the focus of the campaign could come in the third and final presidential debate next Wednesday at Hofstra University in New York.

1 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。

2 candid   

adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的

参考例句：

• I cannot but hope the candid reader will give some allowance for it.我只有希望公正的读者多少包涵一些。
• He is quite candid with his friends.他对朋友相当坦诚。

3 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

4 straightforward   

adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的

参考例句：

• A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
• I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。

5 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

6 pastor   

n.牧师，牧人

参考例句：

• He was the son of a poor pastor.他是一个穷牧师的儿子。
• We have no pastor at present:the church is run by five deacons.我们目前没有牧师：教会的事是由五位执事管理的。

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 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》

9 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。

10 erratic   

adj.古怪的，反复无常的，不稳定的

参考例句：

• The old man had always been cranky and erratic.那老头儿性情古怪,反复无常。
• The erratic fluctuation of market prices is in consequence of unstable economy.经济波动致使市场物价忽起忽落。

11 smears   

污迹( smear的名词复数 )； 污斑； （显微镜的）涂片； 诽谤

参考例句：

• His evidence was a blend of smears, half truths and downright lies. 他的证词里掺杂着诽谤、部份的事实和彻头彻尾的谎言。
• Anything written with a soft pencil smears easily. 用软铅笔写成的东西容易污成一片。

12 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。