VOA标准英语2009年-Upcoming US Governor's Races Pose Test for

By Jim Malone
Washington
23 October 2009

 
President Barack Obama (undated photo) 
In addition to the pressing issues of Afghanistan and health care reform, President Barack Obama has been squeezing in a little campaigning on behalf of Democrats² running in state elections next month. 

2009 is not a big election year in the United States. But the governor's races in New Jersey³ and Virginia on November 3 offer opposition⁴ Republicans an opportunity to weaken Mr. Obama and his fellow Democrats in advance of next year's midterm congressional elections.

The president made a recent campaign swing to New Jersey where the state's incumbent⁵ Democratic governor, John Corzine, is locked in a tight race with Republican candidate Chris Christie and independent contender Chris Dagget.

"Your voice can change the world," he said. "Your voice can elect John Corzine governor once again of New Jersey! I need you! John needs you!"

After losing control of Congress in 2006 and the White House last year, Republicans are looking to rebound⁶ in this year's governor's races, and they seem to have the advantage in Virginia where Republican Bob McDonnell leads Democrat¹ Creigh Deeds in public opinion polls.

Political analysts⁸ say Republican victories in both Virginia and New Jersey would encourage party activists⁹ and energize¹⁰ Obama opponents, setting up a major battle for control of Congress in next year's midterm elections.

"Republicans were very down after the 2008 and 2006 elections and really, polls numbers are not so good for them today as a party," said John Fortier, a political scholar with the American Enterprise Institute.  "But President Obama is starting to show that he is not quite as popular, or that he does not walk on water in the way that many people thought at the beginning of his term and his popularity has come down."

Democratic-leaning analysts take issue with that notion.

Simon Rosenberg is president and founder¹¹ of the New Democrat Network, a center-left political organization based in Washington.

"I think the Republicans, if they end up winning both - and I don't know that they will - I'm sure that they will crow that there is a whole new day dawning and that there has been a rejection¹² of Obamaism and all that," Rosenberg said. "But they have to be a little bit careful to overstate that."

Both political parties also see the continuing congressional debate on health care reform as a key factor in next year's midterm elections.

Political analyst⁷ Stuart Rothenberg says Republicans have had some success during the health care debate in tapping into public concerns about too much government involvement in health care.

"Certainly they are trying to resurrect themselves as a party, and I think taking on the president and trying to re-establish themselves on taxes and spending is one way," he said.

President Obama has made health care reform his top domestic priority, and Rothenberg says it has now become essential for Democrats to get something through Congress before next year's midterm elections.

"I think what is important for the Democrats is where are they as they go into the midterm elections in 2010," Rothenberg said. "If there is nothing passed, I think it would be a terrible problem both for the president and for Democrats."

In addition to the two governor's races, there will be special elections for U.S. House seats in New York and California, and mayoral elections in several major U.S. cities including New York, Boston, Houston, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Seattle and Minneapolis.

1 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。

2 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》

3 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。

4 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

5 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

6 rebound   

v.弹回；n.弹回，跳回

参考例句：

• The vibrations accompanying the rebound are the earth quake.伴随这种回弹的振动就是地震。
• Our evil example will rebound upon ourselves.我们的坏榜样会回到我们自己头上的。

7 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

8 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

9 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 energize   

vt.给予(某人或某物)精力、能量

参考例句：

• It is used to energize the city.它的作用是为城市供给能量。
• This is a great way to energize yourself and give yourself more power!这种方法非常棒，可以激活你的能量，让你有更多的活力！

11 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

12 rejection   

n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃

参考例句：

• He decided not to approach her for fear of rejection.他因怕遭拒绝决定不再去找她。
• The rejection plunged her into the dark depths of despair.遭到拒绝使她陷入了绝望的深渊。