2006年VOA标准英语-Two Black US Senate Candidates May Win and Make

By Bill Rodgers
Washington, DC
02 November 2006
 
watch Black Candidates report

Two African American candidates running for the U.S. Senate this year appear to have a chance to win election -- and make history.  Democratic Party Congressman² Harold Ford³, Junior, of Tennessee could become the first African American to be elected Senator from the South in 125 years.  If Republican Lieutenant⁴ Governor Michael Steele wins in Maryland, he would be the state's first black Senator.  

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Michael Steele 
  

Michael Steele is a conservative Republican running in a liberal state -- and Harold Ford is a Democrat¹ trying to win in a conservative state.

It is a challenge that has forced both men to tailor their campaigns, according to David Bositis, an expert on black electoral politics. "Clearly in Harold Ford's case, who is in a more conservative state and Michael Steele's case, who is in a more liberal state, they have to move in the opposite direction from where their political party usually pulls them.  So Michael Steele pretends he's not a Republican and tries to seem as moderate in his positions as he possibly can whereas Harold Ford has cast several conservative votes over the past year as he has been positioning himself to run for statewide office."

 
Harold Ford
  
This has been evident in debates with their rivals and on the campaign trail.  Ford emphasizes traditional values and goes against his party on such issues as gay marriage.  "I've never supported gay marriage."

Republican Steele stresses problem solving in a "blue" state that traditionally votes for Democrats⁵. "I'm talking to real Marylanders whose problems aren't red or blue, conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat, they're real."

On a recent NBC Meet the Press program, Steele also emphasized his differences with the Bush administration over Iraq. "We are at a point right now where there is no clear strategy or clear direction on the ground.  You hear it from the generals; you hear it from the personnel on the ground.  I think the focus has to be, going forward, what is the strategy?"

But these positions may not be enough to surmount⁶ the advantage held by Steele's opponent, Congressman Benjamin Cardin -- who has brought in high profile Democrats to campaign for him.

"Winning is still a very long shot for Michael Steele.  Maryland is a very Democratic state.  This is probably going to be quite a bad year for the Republican candidates," says analyst⁷ David Bositis.

Ford has a better chance according to opinion polls.  But a recent Republican attack ad -- with a woman in a suggestive pose -- alleges⁸, "I met Harold at the Playboy party." 

this could undercut his support, even though the commercial was pulled -- and repudiated⁹ by Ford's Republican opponent, Bob Corker.  However, Ford might still win if Democrats turn out in large numbers.

Bositis adds, “He has to hope that there is a Democratic wave, as it appears to be now, that there's a Democratic wave in November and I think if there is, there'll be a good chance that Harold Ford will be elected."

Voters will decide the fate of both black Senate candidates next Tuesday.

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 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

3 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

4 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

5 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》

6 surmount   

vt.克服；置于…顶上

参考例句：

• We have many problems to surmount before we can start the project.我们得克服许多困难才能著手做这项工作。
• We are fully confident that we can surmount these difficulties.我们完全相信我们能够克服这些困难。

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 alleges   

断言，宣称，辩解( allege的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The newspaper article alleges that the mayor is corrupt. 报纸上断言该市长腐败。
• Steven was tardy this morning and alleges that his bus was late. 史提芬今天早上迟到的说词是公车误点了。

9 repudiated   

v.（正式地）否认( repudiate的过去式和过去分词 )；拒绝接受；拒绝与…往来；拒不履行（法律义务）

参考例句：

• All slanders and libels should be repudiated. 一切诬蔑不实之词，应予推倒。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The Prime Minister has repudiated racist remarks made by a member of the Conservative Party. 首相已经驳斥了一个保守党成员的种族主义言论。 来自辞典例句