voa标准英语2008-Presidential Electors Confirm Obama as Next Pres

Presidential electors met in state capitals around the United States on Monday to confirm last month's presidential election results that will make Barack Obama the 44th U.S. president on January 20.
　

Members of New York state's electoral college at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y., 15 Dec 2008

It is a tradition that goes back to the beginning of the U.S. republic and the first presidential election in 1789.

Several weeks after the presidential election popular vote, presidential electors meet in the various state capitals and officially cast their ballots¹, as required by the U.S. Constitution.

Mr. Obama won the election over Republican John McCain on November 4. Mr. Obama won 365 electoral votes, while Senator McCain won 173.

In all but two states, the winner of the popular vote is awarded all of that state's electoral votes.

The exceptions are Maine and Nebraska, which award electoral votes both statewide and by congressional district.

The electoral vote count in the various state capitals is largely ceremonial in nature and there is little suspense² about the outcome.

In Pennsylvania, clerk Clifford Levine announced the results after the presidential electors cast their votes in the state capital of Harrisburg.

"The electors of the Commonwealth³ of Pennsylvania have cast 21 votes for the honorable Barack Obama as President of the United States," said Levine.

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell said it was a day the electors would always remember as they voted to confirm the first African-American president.
　

President-elect Barack Obama smiles during a news conference in Chicago, 11 Dec. 2008

But Rendell also said Mr. Obama will face daunting⁴ problems when he takes the oath of office in Washington on January 20.

"You will be voting for a president who will undertake probably the most serious array of challenges that any president since Franklin D. Roosevelt has undertaken," said Rendell. "This country is suffering financially in ways that many people find hard to believe."

There was a note of elation⁵ in Mr. Obama's home state of Illinois, where several electors recalled serving with the next president when he was a member of the Illinois state senate.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White addressed the state electors.

"We are here today to celebrate a great victory. This is not a victory for one group over another or one party over another or one point of view over another. Today, we celebrate a victory for America," said White.

The results from the Electoral College voting will be reported to the new Congress in early January prior to Mr. Obama taking the oath of office on January 20.

It has been announced that Mr. Obama and Vice⁶ President-elect Joe Biden will travel to Washington by train in the days leading up to the inauguration⁷.

Inauguration organizers say Mr. Obama will make stops in Philadelphia, then go to Wilmington, Delaware where he will be joined by Vice President-elect Biden. The two will then stop in Baltimore, Maryland on January 17 before they arrive in Washington.

After his swearing-in on January 20 on the steps of the U.S. Capitol building, Mr. Obama will deliver the inaugural⁸ address, take part in an inaugural parade through Washington and will attend several inaugural balls that evening.

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 suspense   

n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑

参考例句：

• The suspense was unbearable.这样提心吊胆的状况实在叫人受不了。
• The director used ingenious devices to keep the audience in suspense.导演用巧妙手法引起观众的悬念。

3 commonwealth   

n.共和国，联邦，共同体

参考例句：

• He is the chairman of the commonwealth of artists.他是艺术家协会的主席。
• Most of the members of the Commonwealth are nonwhite.英联邦的许多成员国不是白人国家。

4 daunting   

adj.使人畏缩的

参考例句：

• They were faced with the daunting task of restoring the house.他们面临着修复房子的艰巨任务。
• Starting a new job can be a daunting prospect.开始一项新工作有时会让人望而却步。

5 elation   

n.兴高采烈，洋洋得意

参考例句：

• She showed her elation at having finally achieved her ambition.最终实现了抱负，她显得十分高兴。
• His supporters have reacted to the news with elation.他的支持者听到那条消息后兴高采烈。

6 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。

7 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

8 inaugural   

adj.就职的；n.就职典礼

参考例句：

• We listened to the President's inaugural speech on the radio yesterday.昨天我们通过无线电听了总统的就职演说。
• Professor Pearson gave the inaugural lecture in the new lecture theatre.皮尔逊教授在新的阶梯讲堂发表了启用演说。