VOA常速英语2007-Western Governor Considered 'Dark Horse' for Pre

By Jim Fry
Washington
26 October 2007
 

All this year, three well-known presidential candidates have led in public opinion polls among likely voters in the Democratic Party. Yet there is a tradition in the U.S. of a so-called "dark horse" candidate emerging to challenge for a party's nomination¹. This year, the one considered most likely to catch fire among Democrats² is Bill Richardson. He is the governor of a western state, but is not well known among voters nationally. Still, experts say he may be the Democratic candidate who is most qualified³ for the job. VOA's Jim Fry profiles the governor and former ambassador.

Even before he formally announced for president in May, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson [administrator of a western U.S. state] acknowledged his candidacy was a long shot. But he put on the hard sell for his political party. Richardson said, "I'm a westerner. This is a new area that is fertile for the Democratic Party."

"He is unbeatable. It is amazing the Democrats haven't recognized that," says political scientist Larry Sabato. He says Richardson would make a formidable nominee⁴ in the November 2008 general election. Sabato says not only is he a proven winner in a western state, but his Hispanic roots appeal to an interest group that has growing electoral strength.

Bill Richardson was born in the United States, but his father is from Nicaragua and his mother from Mexico. "When I was growing up, I didn't know whether I was an American or a Mexican. I would dream in Spanish. I would occasionally think in English," he said.

He was elected to Congress in 1980, at one point returning to an ovation⁵ from members of both parties after one of his diplomatic coups⁶. Richardson -- as a special envoy⁷ -- secured the release of hostages in several countries including North Korea and Iraq during and after serving as the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N.

In the late 1990s Richardson became secretary of energy under a Democratic president.

Sabato directs the University of Virginia's Center for Politics and adds, "Republicans will tell you privately⁸ that if the Democrats nominate Bill Richardson the election is over. They know they will lose to Bill Richardson. He is perfectly⁹ positioned."

In taking positions on issues, Richardson has not entirely¹⁰ adopted either party's dogma. For example, his support of gun ownership rights appeals to western conservatives who often vote Republican. Yet, on the presence of American troops in Iraq, he has adopted the stance of his own party's left-wing core of support. He explains, "We've got, right now, 160,000 troops. And that includes the 30,000 extra with the surge [reinforcements ordered into Iraq in January 2007]. I would pull them all out."

Richardson has campaigned aggressively in Iowa, the state that traditionally weighs in first in the presidential primary season. Yet he is mired¹¹ in fourth place in the most recent opinion polls here.

Stuart Rothenberg tracks national politics as the founder¹² of a prominent national political newsletter. He comments, "His problem is there is no obvious opening right now in the Democratic contest. Eighty-five percent of the Democrats say they're content with the field."

Senator Hillary Clinton of New York leads most polls of likely voters in Democratic Party primary elections. Senator Barak Obama of Illinois runs second. If either one falters¹³, political experts say former Senator John Edwards of North Carolina is in a good position to move up from third place.

Richardson has acknowledged he needs to finish better than experts predict in an early voting state. Democrats in Nevada will be the first in a western state to make their selection. Richardson says it is an important state. "I consider Nevada a critically important state."

Rothenberg says, "He needs a win somewhere. He needs to impress. He's making some ground up in Iowa but it's still a long shot even if he were to win Nevada."

Bill Richardson, the Democrat's western dark horse, has just over two months before that first important test, now scheduled in Iowa on January 3rd.

1 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

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 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

4 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

5 ovation   

n.欢呼，热烈欢迎，热烈鼓掌

参考例句：

• The hero received a great ovation from the crowd. 那位英雄受到人群的热烈欢迎。
• The show won a standing ovation. 这场演出赢得全场起立鼓掌。

6 coups   

n.意外而成功的行动( coup的名词复数 )；政变；努力办到难办的事

参考例句：

• China has seen many political coups within the ruling class. 中国统治阶级内部发生过很多政变。 来自互联网
• Thailand has had eighteen coups or coup attendance since nineteen thirty-two. 泰国1932年以来有18次政变或参加政变。 来自互联网

7 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

8 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

9 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

10 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

11 mired   

abbr.microreciprocal degree 迈尔德（色温单位）v.深陷( mire的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The country was mired in recession. 这个国家陷入了经济衰退的困境。
• The most brilliant leadership can be mired in detail. 最有才干的领导也会陷于拘泥琐事的困境中。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

12 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。

13 falters   

（嗓音）颤抖( falter的第三人称单数 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃

参考例句：

• He never falters in his determination. 他的决心从不动摇。
• The plan never falters; the design never changes. It is all ordered. 大自然从不步履蹒跚，从不三心二意，一切都是有条不紊。