VOA常速英语2008年-US Citizens in 24 States Vote in 'Super Tuesday

By Jim Malone
Washington
04 February 2008
 

Tuesday is looming¹ as a critical day in the U.S. presidential campaign when more than 20 states hold party nominating contests. The latest polls contain good news for Democrat² Barack Obama and Republican John McCain. VOA National Correspondent Jim Malone has a preview of the so-called Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses³.

Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barak Obama will do battle in 22 Democratic contests around the country, including states with large numbers of delegates like California, New York and New Jersey⁴.

The latest national public opinion polls show Obama gaining on Clinton and the race nearly even. But Clinton continues to hold narrow leads over Obama in most of the larger states voting on Tuesday.

Both candidates are relying on a last minute barrage⁵ of television ads and quick campaign visits to key states to urge their supporters to vote Tuesday.

Obama cast himself as the agent of change at a rally in Delaware.

"I can offer a clear and clean break from the failed policies of George W. Bush," he said. "I will not have to explain my votes in the past."

Clinton urged voters to consider her experience during a campaign stop in Missouri.

"My opponent has not had to go through that kind of baptism by fire," she said. "Let us not kid ourselves here. This is going to be open season once again, and we need to nominate somebody with the experience and fortitude⁶ and know-how⁷ to take whatever they send our way and send it right back."

More than 1,600 Democratic delegates are at stake Tuesday, 2,025 delegates are required to win the Democratic nomination⁸.

In the Republican race, 21 states are holding nominating contests Tuesday.

Senator John McCain is looking to build on the momentum⁹ generated by his wins in the two most recent primaries in Florida and South Carolina.

McCain campaigned Monday in Massachusetts and sought to appeal to both Republicans and independent voters.

"As President of the United States, I will preserve my proud, conservative Republican credentials¹⁰, but I will reach across the aisle¹¹ to the Democrats¹² and work together for the good of this country," he said. "That is what you want us to do, is work for the good of this country."

McCain is trying to fend¹³ off a challenge from former Massachusetts governor Mitt¹⁴ Romney. Romney contends McCain is not conservative enough to be the Republican Party's presidential nominee¹⁵.

"There is that old saying that if there is a race between a Republican acting¹⁶ like a Democrat and a Democrat, the Democrat always wins," he said.

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee hopes to do well in some of the southern primaries, while Texas Congressman¹⁷ Ron Paul is looking for a strong showing in Alaska.

More than 1,000 Republican delegates are at stake on Tuesday. A total of 1,191 delegates are required to win the Republican nomination.

Most political experts predict that the Democratic contest will go on well after the Super Tuesday results.

The Democrats use a method of proportional representation to award delegates from the primaries and caucuses, while Republicans generally follow the rule of winner-take-all.

"The number of [Democratic] delegates is large, but they are going to be split in a certain way, so that we will have to go on," said John Fortier, who monitors the election campaign at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington and was a guest on VOA's Encounter program. "But it could be that we could have a clear frontrunner, and I think that is more likely on the Republican side these days. John McCain, I think, has the ability or the prospect¹⁸ of really establishing himself as the clear frontrunner on Super Tuesday."

Looking ahead to the next major contests on the campaign calendar, Maryland and Virginia vote on February 12 while Ohio and Texas hold primaries March 4.

1 looming   

n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• The foothills were looming ahead through the haze. 丘陵地带透过薄雾朦胧地出现在眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then they looked up. Looming above them was Mount Proteome. 接着他们往上看，在其上隐约看到的是蛋白质组山。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 回顾与展望

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 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

4 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

5 barrage   

n.火力网，弹幕

参考例句：

• The attack jumped off under cover of a barrage.进攻在炮火的掩护下开始了。
• The fierce artillery barrage destroyed the most part of the city in a few minutes.猛烈的炮火几分钟内便毁灭了这座城市的大部分地区。

6 fortitude   

n.坚忍不拔；刚毅

参考例句：

• His dauntless fortitude makes him absolutely fearless.他不屈不挠的坚韧让他绝无恐惧。
• He bore the pain with great fortitude.他以极大的毅力忍受了痛苦。

7 know-how   

n.知识；技术；诀窍

参考例句：

• He hasn't got the know-how to run a farm.他没有经营农场的专业知识。
• I don't have much know-how about engines.发动机方面的技术知识我知之甚少。

8 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。

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 credentials   

n.证明，资格，证明书，证件

参考例句：

• He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
• Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。

11 aisle   

n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道

参考例句：

• The aisle was crammed with people.过道上挤满了人。
• The girl ushered me along the aisle to my seat.引座小姐带领我沿着通道到我的座位上去。

12 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》

13 fend   

v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开

参考例句：

• I've had to fend for myself since I was 14.我从十四岁时起就不得不照料自己。
• He raised his arm up to fend branches from his eyes.他举手将树枝从他眼前挡开。

14 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。

15 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。

16 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

17 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

18 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。