VOA常速英语2007年-US Presidential Contenders Focus on January Tes

By Jim Malone
Washington
13 December 2007

The U.S. presidential contenders are focused on the Midwest state of Iowa, where the first test of the 2008 presidential campaign will take place three weeks from now on January 3.  VOA National correspondent Jim Malone has the latest on the presidential race from Washington.

In their final debate before the Iowa caucuses¹ on January 3, the Democratic presidential contenders put forward their plans for the economy, trade, health care and the war in Iraq.

The latest polls indicate a close race among three Democrats² in Iowa including Senator Hillary Clinton of New York, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois and former Senator John Edwards of North Carolina.

Obama argued that he would be the agent of change should he win the presidency³ in November of next year.

"I believe we can provide better economic security, that we can restore out standing⁴ in the world and that we can make sure that our children have a brighter future.  But we can only do it if we have the courage to change."

Clinton countered that her experience makes her better suited to bring change to Washington.

"Some believe you get change by demanding it.  Some believe you get it by hoping for it.  I believe you get it by working hard for change," she said.  "That is what I have done my entire life."

Other Democratic contenders competing in Iowa include New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, Senator Joe Biden of Delaware, Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Ohio Congressman⁵ Dennis Kucinich.

The battle for the Republican Party's presidential nomination⁶ is also close.  Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has surged into a lead in Iowa, according to public opinion polls in recent weeks.

Huckabee spoke⁷ about his leadership style during a Republican candidate's debate in Iowa on Wednesday.

"I am still in awe⁸ that this country would afford kids like me the opportunity to be a president," he said.  "I will try not to forget where I came from and where this country needs to go."

Huckabee's gain in Iowa has come at the expense of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt⁹ Romney, who had led the polls there for months.

Both men are battling for the votes of social conservatives, who oppose abortion¹⁰ and gay rights and who tend to be religious.

In the latest Republican debate, Romney tried to make the case that he had a more conservative record as a governor than Huckabee.

"If you want to see a strong America, you do not look to Washington, you look to ways to strengthen the American people," he explained.

Experts say Huckabee is gaining in Iowa, because he is winning over social conservative voters.

Michael Barone has written extensively about U.S. politics for years.

"About two-thirds of his support is from people who describe themselves as Evangelical Christians," he noted¹¹.  "Clearly, he has got a lot of charm.  He is articulate.  People rate his performances well in these debates.  So, I think it is a combination of factors there."

Other Republicans vying¹² for the party nomination include former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Senator John McCain of Arizona and former Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee.  Three House members are running as well, Congressman Duncan Hunter of California, Congressman Tom Tancredo of Colorado and Congressman Ron Paul of Texas.

There could be more upheaval¹³ in the presidential races in both parties in the next few weeks.

Karlyn Bowman monitors public opinion at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington.

"40 percent of Democrats say they have made up their minds about the race," she explained.  "These are people with a preference.  Only 23 percent of Republicans say that they have made up their minds at this point in the race, so I think a lot could change."

The Iowa vote kicks off an intense schedule of presidential caucuses and primaries that begin in early January and reach a climax¹⁴ on February 5 when more than 20 states will hold some form of primary voting on the same day.

1 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

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 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 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

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 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。

7 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

8 awe   

n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧

参考例句：

• The sight filled us with awe.这景色使我们大为惊叹。
• The approaching tornado struck awe in our hearts.正在逼近的龙卷风使我们惊恐万分。

9 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。

10 abortion   

n.流产，堕胎

参考例句：

• She had an abortion at the women's health clinic.她在妇女保健医院做了流产手术。
• A number of considerations have led her to have a wilful abortion.多种考虑使她执意堕胎。

11 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

12 vying   

adj.竞争的；比赛的

参考例句：

• California is vying with other states to capture a piece of the growing communications market.为了在日渐扩大的通讯市场分得一杯羹，加利福尼亚正在和其他州展开竞争。
• Four rescue plans are vying to save the zoo.4个拯救动物园的方案正争得不可开交。

13 upheaval   

n.胀起，(地壳)的隆起；剧变，动乱

参考例句：

• It was faced with the greatest social upheaval since World War Ⅱ.它面临第二次世界大战以来最大的社会动乱。
• The country has been thrown into an upheaval.这个国家已经陷入动乱之中。

14 climax   

n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点

参考例句：

• The fifth scene was the climax of the play.第五场是全剧的高潮。
• His quarrel with his father brought matters to a climax.他与他父亲的争吵使得事态发展到了顶点。