Following their first major presidential debate, Republican White House contenders have made it clear they intend to make the 2012 U.S. presidential election a referendum on President Barack Obama's handling of the domestic economy. Political analysts say the strategy is no surprise and could make for a very close election next year.
共和党总统竞选人首场主要辩论结束后，该党希望被提名的竞选人就明确表示，他们要将2012年总统大选变成一个针对奥巴马国内经济政策的全民公决。政治分析人士说，这个战略在预料之中，可能会让明年大选双方得票结果十分接近。
Seven Republican contenders took part in the presidential debate, and political analysts generally gave the higher grades to former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann.
7名共和党总统参选人参加了辩论，政治分析人士普遍看好前麻萨诸塞州州长罗姆尼和来自明尼苏达州的国会女议员米歇尔.巴赫曼。
Romney has solidified his lead in the polls as the Republican frontrunner in recent weeks and is citing his business background as an advantage in discussing how to revive the U.S. economy.
罗姆尼最近几个星期在民调中奠定了他领先的地位，并称他自己的经商背景是讨论如何重振美国经济的有利条件。
"The right way for America to create jobs is to keep government in its place and to allow the private sector and the energy and passion of the American people to create a brighter future for our kids and for ourselves," said Romney.
罗姆尼说：“美国创造工作机会的正确方式是，限制政府的作用，让私营部门以及美国人民的能量和热情发挥出来，为他们以及子孙创造更光明的未来。”
Despite his lead in the polls, Romney still faces concerns from conservatives who question his previous moderate stances on issues like abortion, climate change and health care reform.
尽管罗姆尼在民调中一直领先，但是他仍然受到保守派人士的怀疑。保守派人士批评他过去在堕胎、气候变化以及健保改革议题上的温和的立场。
Michele Bachmann officially joined the presidential race during Monday's debate and experts said she made a strong initial impression even though less well known that Romney nationally.
米歇尔.巴赫曼在星期一的辩论会上正式加入竞选共和党总统竞选人。专家们认为，尽管她的全国知名度不如罗姆尼，但她一进入赛场就为观众留下了深刻的印象。
Bachmann has appeal to two important groups within the Republican Party-Evangelical Christians and supporters of the Tea Party movement pushing for smaller government and a repeal of President Obama's health care law.
巴赫曼在共和党内吸引了两个重要部分的选民，一个是福音派基督徒，一个就是茶党运动的支持者，这些人推动实行小政府，主张废除奥巴马政府的健保法案。
"As president of the United States I will not rest until I repeal 'Obamacare.' It is a promise. Take it to the bank. Cash the check. I will make sure that that happens," said Bachmann.
巴赫曼说：“如果能当选总统，我将要废除奥巴马的医保法案，不达目的决不收兵。这是我的承诺，你们监督我，我一定实现诺言，把这个事情办成。”
Five other contenders took part in the debate including former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich, former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum, Texas Congressman Ron Paul and Georgia businessman Herman Cain.
其它5名参加辩论的竞争者包括，前明尼苏达州州长蒂姆.普兰提，美国国会众议院前议长纽特.金里奇，来自宾夕法尼亚州的前联邦参议员里克.山托兰，来自德克萨斯的联邦众议员罗恩.保罗以及乔治亚商人赫尔曼.凯恩。
The Republican contenders focused their rhetorical fire on President Obama and not each other, at least for now, signaling they intend to make Obama's handling of the economy the central issue in next year's campaign.
这几位共和党参选者言辞犀利，矛头针对奥巴马总统，至少目前都没有相互攻击。这显示他们有意让奥巴马对经济的处理成为明年竞选造势的中心议题。
Recent polls indicate President Obama's approval ratings have slipped slightly after surging last month in the wake of the killing of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.
最近的民调显示，奥巴马总统的支持率在击毙基地恐怖组织头目本拉登之后上个月迅速提升，但现在又滑落下来。
Political analysts say bad economic news is to blame, especially the recent tick up in the jobless rate to 9.1 percent.
分析人士说，这些都是因为经济疲软的消息，特别是美国失业率在上个月突破了9.1%。
John Fortier is with the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington:
约翰.福蒂埃是总部在华盛顿的两党政策中心的学者。
"But if there is not much change in direction, four years of bad economic times, even if it started under [former President] George Bush, is a bad sign for the president," said Fortier.
他说：“如果方向没有很大改变，持续四年的经济疲软，即使是在前总统布什执政期间就开始了，对奥巴马总统来说也是一个很坏的迹象。”
Fortier spoke on VOA's Encounter program, as did political analyst Stuart Rothenberg.
福蒂埃是在美国之音的“接触”栏目中和政治分析人士罗滕伯格一起接受采访的。
"I think we are headed for a real race. I am assuming that the economy that we see today is going to be something like the economy we see in the summer and fall of 2012," noted Rothenberg.
滕伯格说：“我看真正的竞争就要开始了。我估计2012年夏秋两季的经济跟我们现在所看到经济会有很多相似之处。”
The latest polls show only Mitt Romney comes close to defeating President Obama if the election were held today. But all of that could change in the months to come, says Quinnipiac University pollster Peter Brown.
"We do not know what the playing field will be like in the fall of 2012," noted Brown. "Tell me what the price of a gallon of gasoline is. Tell me what the unemployment rate is. Is the United States embroiled in foreign conflicts that the electorate is unhappy about? Those are all unknowns right now that you just can not know."
Former Utah governor Jon Huntsman is expected to join the presidential field next week and former Alaska governor Sarah Palin is still considering joining the race as well.
前犹他州州长洪博培预计将于下周宣布参加竞选共和党总统候选人，而前阿拉斯加州州长萨拉佩林也在考虑是否加入竞选。 |