2007年VOA标准英语-Obama Fundraising Suggests Close Race For Party

By Jim Malone
Washington
02 July 2007

Illinois Senator Barack Obama continues to impress political rivals and experts with his ability to raise money as part of his 2008 campaign for president. Obama led all Democrats¹ in fundraising during the past three months, signaling a tough fight for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination² with the frontrunner, Senator Hillary Clinton. VOA National Correspondent Jim Malone has more from Washington.

Barack Obama

Obama raised more than $32 million in the second quarter of the year, compared to 27 million raised by the Clinton campaign. Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards finished the period with $9 million, followed by New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who raised seven million.

This year, the Obama campaign has raised $58 million, shattering previous records for fundraising in the first six months of the year before the election year.

Obama received money from 154,000 people during the past three months compared to 60,000 who donated to the Clinton campaign.

Larry Sabato directs the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.

"What is really impressive is that his money is coming in smaller donations, which means that he can go back again and again to his donors³, asking them for another $50 or $100."

Obama's success in fundraising has not translated into a better position in public opinion polls.

Senator Hillary Clinton (file photo)

Clinton has led the Democratic field from the beginning and solidified⁴ her lead, according to some recent surveys.

But expert Larry Sabato says the Obama fundraising performance signals a long and closely fought battle for the Democratic nomination next year.

"I think what is important is that this really destroys the hardening conventional wisdom that somehow Hillary Clinton had the Democratic nomination wrapped up. She does not. This is going to be a real race," he said.

Analysts⁵ say Obama's fundraising prowess will help him compete in the early contest states like Iowa and New Hampshire, which kick off the nomination contests for both parties next January.

Longtime Democratic strategist Bob Shrum told the C-SPAN public affairs TV network that Obama appears to be a strong position to challenge Clinton, despite her longstanding lead in the polls.

"I think if they decide at that point that Obama is serious and substantive⁶ as well as appealing, then I think he has a very, very good chance of winning the Iowa caucuses⁷ and the nomination," he noted⁸. "So I think he is pursuing exactly the right strategy."

But Clinton supporters insist she remains⁹ the candidate to beat, citing surveys that show a majority of Democrats believe she has the edge in experience and leadership over Obama.

Terry McAuliffe is Hillary Clinton's top fundraiser.

"Ultimately, it comes down to who has got the best message, who is the best candidate, and right now Hillary Clinton is leading in 34 of the first 36 contests," McAuliffe said. " I think primarily people are watching Hillary in those debates and saying, you know, she has got the experience, the leadership skills to run this country."

The fundraising news was not encouraging for former Senator Edwards, who declined from $14 million in the first three months of this year to $9 million in the second quarter. Edwards has been running third behind Clinton and Obama in most opinion polls for sometime.

1 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》

2 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。

3 donors   

n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者

参考例句：

• Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去，请给我们发电子邮件。
• About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 solidified   

（使）成为固体，（使）变硬，（使）变得坚固( solidify的过去式和过去分词 )； 使团结一致； 充实，巩固； 具体化

参考例句：

• Her attitudes solidified through privilege and habit. 由于特权和习惯使然，她的看法变得越来越难以改变。
• When threatened, he fires spheres of solidified air from his launcher! 当危险来临，他就会发射它的弹药！

5 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。

6 substantive   

adj.表示实在的；本质的、实质性的；独立的；n.实词，实名词；独立存在的实体

参考例句：

• They plan to meet again in Rome very soon to begin substantive negotiations.他们计划不久在罗马再次会晤以开始实质性的谈判。
• A president needs substantive advice,but he also requires emotional succor. 一个总统需要实质性的建议，但也需要感情上的支持。

7 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

8 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。

9 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。