VOA常速英语2008年-McCain Gets Endorsement from President Bush

By Cindy Saine
Washington
05 March 2008
 

Republican Senator John McCain, 71, has received a formal endorsement¹ from President Bush at the White House, after winning all four primary contests to clinch² his party's nomination³.   VOA Correspondent Cindy Saine reports from Washington.

Arizona Senator John McCain has secured the Republican presidential nomination at last, eight years after his first failed attempt. 

The man who was his bitter rival and eventually defeated him in that 2000 Republican race, President George W. Bush, invited him to the White House Wednesday for a warm endorsement.

"John showed incredible courage and strength of character and perseverance⁴ in order to get to this moment and that is exactly what we need in a president," he said.  "Somebody who can handle the tough decisions, somebody who won't flinch⁵ in the face of danger."

The Arizona senator has disagreed with President Bush on several issues, criticizing the planning for the Iraq war and the administration's policy on torture, but he thanked the president for his support.

"I appreciate his endorsement, I appreciate his service to our country," he said.  "I intend to have as much possible campaigning events together as is in keeping with the president's heavy schedule."

With his low approval ratings, close association with President Bush could hurt Senator McCain among some voters.  But the president is still popular among many conservative Republicans, whose support McCain needs to win the general election.

Last summer, many experts prematurely⁶ declared Senator McCain's campaign "dead".  His Iraq war stance and his backing for comprehensive immigration reform made him deeply unpopular, and he had to take out a bank loan just to keep his campaign running. 

But McCain is a survivor⁷.  As a veteran pilot during the Vietnam War, he narrowly escaped death in a missile accident.  Three months later, he was shot down during a bombing mission and was a prisoner of war in Vietnam for five-and-a-half years.

John McCain would be the oldest American ever elected to a first term as president if he is able to win over the Democratic nominee⁸ in November's general election. 

McCain said both his Democratic rivals, Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama phoned him late Tuesday to congratulate him on winning the nomination, and he promised to wage a fair campaign.

"I pledge again a respectful campaign," he said.  "A respectful campaign based on the issues and based on the stark⁹ differences and visions we have for the future of America."

Senator McCain says he will focus on his national security and foreign policy experience. He strongly supports keeping U.S. combat troops in Iraq as long as necessary to win the war, saying he would rather "lose an election than lose a war."

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 clinch   

v.敲弯，钉牢；确定；扭住对方 [参]clench

参考例句：

• Clinch the boards together.用钉子把木板钉牢在一起。
• We don't accept us dollars,please Swiss francs to clinch a deal business.我方不收美元，请最好用瑞士法郎来成交生意。

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 perseverance   

n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠

参考例句：

• It may take some perseverance to find the right people.要找到合适的人也许需要有点锲而不舍的精神。
• Perseverance leads to success.有恒心就能胜利。

5 flinch   

v.畏缩，退缩

参考例句：

• She won't flinch from speaking her mind.她不会讳言自己的想法。
• We will never flinch from difficulties.我们面对困难决不退缩。

6 prematurely   

adv.过早地，贸然地

参考例句：

• She was born prematurely with poorly developed lungs. 她早产，肺部未发育健全。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His hair was prematurely white, but his busy eyebrows were still jet-black. 他的头发已经白了，不过两道浓眉还是乌黑乌黑的。 来自辞典例句

7 survivor   

n.生存者，残存者，幸存者

参考例句：

• The sole survivor of the crash was an infant.这次撞车的惟一幸存者是一个婴儿。
• There was only one survivor of the plane crash.这次飞机失事中只有一名幸存者。

8 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。

9 stark   

adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地

参考例句：

• The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。
• He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。