VOA标准英语2012--Gingrich Victory in South Carolina Leaves Republican Race Open

Gingrich Victory in South Carolina Leaves Republican Race Open

Newt Gingrich's supporters celebrated¹ Saturday night.
The candidate targeted President Barack Obama and complimented his Republican rivals.
"If you look at the four of us, we are proof that you can come from a wide range of backgrounds and in America you have a chance to try to make your case no matter what the elites² think in New York and Washington," he said.
The former speaker of the House of Representatives staged a surprising comeback months after his campaign staff quit, weeks after poor showings in other contests, and days after one of his ex-wives brought his extramarital affairs to the forefront.
But the candidate's personal life did not keep voters in this southern conservative state from casting ballots³ for him, like Trent Shealy.
"He does have baggage, but I don't think he's afraid to call other people out and I want to keep hearing that," said Shealy.
Nursing student William Bouknight predicted a Gingrich win.
"This is definitely a common sense state and I think he's the most common sense one we got," he said.
The Republican race now is wide open, with three different candidates taking the Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina nominating contests.
Some in the party hope the next primary in nearby Florida will be decisive. Voter Jeff Fitzharris:
"If it drags out longer than that, then I think they're detracting from each other," he said.
Third-place finisher Rick Santorum, a socially conservative former senator from Pennsylvania, this week was named the winner of the Iowa caucuses⁴, instead of taking second place as originally announced.
"Three states, three winners! What a great country!" he said.
Former Massachusetts governor Mitt⁵ Romney, long considered the Republican frontrunner, took second place here.
"We are now three contests into a long primary season and a hard fight because there is so much worth fighting for," he said. "We've got a long way to go and a lot of work to do and tomorrow we're going to move on to Florida!"
Gingrich and his rivals will now focus on the Florida primary on January 31.

1 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

2 elites   

精华( elite的名词复数 )； 精锐； 上层集团； （统称）掌权人物

参考例句：

• The elites are by their nature a factor contributing to underdevelopment. 这些上层人物天生是助长欠发达的因素。
• Elites always detest gifted and nimble outsiders. 社会名流对天赋聪明、多才多艺的局外人一向嫌恶。

3 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 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

5 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。