2007年VOA标准英语-Democrat Obama Takes Step Toward US Presidentia

By Jim Malone
Washington
16 January 2007

Democratic Senator Barack Obama, a rapidly rising star on America's political scene, has taken a first step toward a possible run for president in 2008. VOA National Correspondent Jim Malone reports from Washington.

 
Barack Obama during surprise visit to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 10 Dec. 2006
Senator Obama filed the necessary papers creating a presidential exploratory committee. That is the first step most candidates take before they mount a campaign for the White House.

The Illinois Democrat¹, who is the only African-American in the Senate, made the announcement in a recorded message posted on his Web site.

"For the next several weeks, I am going to talk with people from around the country, listening and learning more about the challenges we face as a nation, the opportunities that lie before us and the role that a presidential campaign might play in bringing our country together," he said.

Obama says he will announce whether he will run for the presidency³ on February 10 in Illinois.

The possibility of an Obama bid for the White House has sparked excitement among Democrats⁴ looking for a fresh face in 2008.

Four other Democrats have already announced they will run for president next year. They include former North Carolina Senator John Edwards, former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd, and Ohio Congressman⁵ Dennis Kucinich.

Other Democrats are expected to formally announce their intentions soon, including Senator Hillary Clinton of New York.

 
Barack Obama (file photo)
Obama is the son of a Kenyan father and an American mother. He served seven years in the Illinois state Senate before his election as a U.S. Senator in 2004.

Political analysts⁶ say Obama has already shown an ability to draw enthusiastic support from Democratic activists⁷. But they also say that excitement may be tempered by his relative lack of experience in national politics.

"He is a very personable, articulate guy," said Stuart Rothenberg, who publishes a non-partisan political newsletter in Washington. "I have talked to him a number of times. I met him before he was in the Senate. He came to see me. But, I mean, he is still kind of green [inexperienced] and we are talking about him in this environment where foreign policy seems to be the number one issue. So I just think he has a long way to go."

Several Republicans have taken steps toward a possible White House run as well, including Arizona Senator John McCain, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt² Romney. Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo of Colorado joined that group Tuesday when he announced the creation of a presidential exploratory committee.

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 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。

3 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

4 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》

5 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。

6 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。

7 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》