VOA常速英语2008年-Democratic Presidential Contenders Focus on Tex

By Jim Malone
Washington
22 February 2008

Democratic presidential rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are focusing their efforts on the large, delegate-rich states of Texas and Ohio over the next several days.  Obama and Clinton are headed for what could be a decisive showdown for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination¹ in the Texas and Ohio primaries on March 4.  VOA National correspondent Jim Malone has the latest on the U.S. presidential campaign from Washington.    

The two remaining Democratic contenders are coming off their latest debate in Texas where clashes over issues and style were few and far between.

Clinton desperately² needs to stop Obama's momentum³ after losing 11 straight contests since February 5.

As she did in the latest debate, Clinton will continue to focus on Obama as a gifted orator⁴ who is short on experience.

"Words are important and words matter, but actions speak louder than words," she said.

Obama was elected to the Senate in 2004, but counters that he has had plenty of experience helping⁵ people as a community organizer and civil rights lawyer.

"Actions do speak louder than words, which is why over the 20 years of my public service I have acted a lot to provide health care to people who did not have it," he said.

By most estimates, Obama has a lead in pledged delegates of about 100, though he is still well short of the 2025 needed to claim the Democratic nomination.

Clinton hopes to reverse his momentum with victories in Texas and Ohio on March 4 and in Pennsylvania on April 22.  But Clinton must win all three contests by large margins⁶ in order to win enough delegates to move ahead of Obama.

The latest polls show Obama and Clinton are tied in Texas, while Clinton has a seven point lead over Obama in Ohio.

In the Republican race, frontrunner John McCain sought to refocus his campaign on the economy and the war in Iraq one day after fending⁷ off allegations contained in a New York Times story.

McCain denied a New York Times report Thursday that he had an improper⁸ relationship with a woman lobbyist while he was chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee back in 1999.

McCain told reporters in Indianapolis Friday that he is through talking about the Times story.

"I had a press conference yesterday morning and I answered every question," he said.  "I am moving on.  I am talking about the issues and challenges of America, and the big issues that Americans are concerned about."

McCain got some support from the Bush White House Friday.  Deputy press secretary Scott Stanzel told reporters that Republicans have become used to the New York Times dropping what he called a bombshell on the Republican Party nominee⁹ during a presidential campaign.

The New York Times has defended the story saying it was carefully researched over a period of months.

McCain is looking to pick up more delegates in Texas and Ohio on March 4 and move closer to wrapping up the Republican nomination against his main remaining challenger, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee.

1 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。

2 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

3 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。

4 orator   

n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家

参考例句：

• He was so eloquent that he cut down the finest orator.他能言善辩，胜过最好的演说家。
• The orator gestured vigorously while speaking.这位演讲者讲话时用力地做手势。

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 margins   

边( margin的名词复数 )； 利润； 页边空白； 差数

参考例句：

• They have always had to make do with relatively small profit margins. 他们不得不经常设法应付较少的利润额。
• To create more space between the navigation items, add left and right margins to the links. 在每个项目间留更多的空隙，加左或者右的margins来定义链接。

7 fending   

v.独立生活，照料自己( fend的现在分词 )；挡开，避开

参考例句：

• He is always spending his time fending with the neighbors. 他总是与邻里们吵架。 来自互联网
• Fifth, it is to build safeguarding system and enhance the competence in fending off the risk. 五是建立政策保障体系，提高防范和抵御风险的能力。 来自互联网

8 improper   

adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的

参考例句：

• Short trousers are improper at a dance.舞会上穿短裤不成体统。
• Laughing and joking are improper at a funeral.葬礼时大笑和开玩笑是不合适的。

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。