VOA标准英语2008年-Obama, Clinton Appear Together at 'Unity' Rally

Former presidential rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton made their first joint¹ campaign appearance Friday in the aptly named town of Unity², New Hampshire. It was the first time the once bitter rivals campaigned together since Obama clinched³ the Democratic Party's presidential nomination⁴ earlier this month. VOA National correspondent Jim Malone has more from Washington.
　
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama waves with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton at a campaign event in Unity, New Hampshire, 27 Jun 2008

For 16 months they were rivals. But in the small New Hampshire town of Unity Friday, Senators Obama and Clinton sought to put their primary battles in the past and heal the Democratic Party in time to face Republican John McCain in November.

"Well, Unity is not only a beautiful place, as we can see, it is a wonderful feeling, isn't it," asked Senator Clinton.

Clinton suspended her campaign earlier this month after it was clear Obama had clinched enough Democratic delegates to claim the party's presidential nomination.

Clinton left little doubt Friday that she will fully⁵ support Obama's run for the White House against the presumptive Republican nominee⁶, Senator John McCain.

"We may have started on separate paths, but today, our paths have merged," she added. "Today our hearts are set on the same destination for America. Today we are coming together for the same goal, to elect Barack Obama as the next president of the United States."

Clinton and Obama flew together from Washington to New Hampshire and appeared friendly toward one another during the campaign rally. The image of the two former rivals now joining forces could encourage some Clinton supporters to call on Obama to choose Hillary Clinton as his vice⁷ presidential running mate.

For now, Obama is saying little about a vice presidential running mate. Obama did tell the rally at Unity that he expects Hillary and Bill Clinton to play a role in his campaign.

"We need them badly, not just my campaign, but the American people need their service and their vision and their wisdom in the months and years to come because that is how we are going to bring about unity in the Democratic Party and that is how we are going to bring about unity in America, and that is how we are going to deliver the American dream in every corner of every state of this great nation that we love," he said.

Besides the obvious implication of its name, Unity was chosen because each candidate got exactly 107 votes in January's New Hampshire presidential primary, which Clinton won.

Republican John McCain meanwhile campaigned in Ohio Friday, and told reporters he still hopes to win over some Clinton supporters who may be reluctant to back Obama.

"I do think we are able to attract some of Senator Clinton's supporters, not so much because of any reason that they think that I may serve America best," he said. "I had a woman at a town hall meeting yesterday who was wearing a Hillary hat. I was pleased that she was there and I was pleased to respond to her comments."

At the rally in New Hampshire, Hillary Clinton urged her supporters to resist the McCain campaign and line up behind Senator Obama.

But that may not be enough for some Clinton supporters like university professor Jill Brantley. Brantley was among a handful of protesters in Washington this week urging Clinton not to abandon her campaign for the Democratic nomination.

"We are being asked to fall in line in terms of issues while the process is absolutely corrupt," she said. "And I am frightened, knowing how he got the nomination, what he would do if he had real power. I really am."

Clinton and Obama also discussed fundraising this week. Clinton needs help paying off a ten million dollar campaign debt, and Obama wants to tap some of her top fundraisers for his campaign against John McCain.

 

1 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

2 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

3 clinched   

v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议）

参考例句：

• The two businessmen clinched the deal quickly. 两位生意人很快达成了协议。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Evidently this information clinched the matter. 显然，这一消息使问题得以最终解决。 来自辞典例句

4 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。

5 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

6 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。

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。