VOA标准英语2008年-Iowa Caucus Winners Obama, Huckabee Campaign in

By Cindy Saine
Washington
04 January 2008

Democratic candidate U.S, Senator Barack Obama and Republican candidate Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas, are back on the campaign trail in New Hampshire, seeking to capitalize on their stunning¹ victories in Thursday night's Iowa caucuses².  The unexpected wins, each by a solid margin³, by both Obama and Huckabee surprised the political establishment in Washington, as VOA correspondent Cindy Saine reports.

Barack Obama, 46, the son of a Kenyan father and an American mother from Kansas, managed to soundly defeat expected front-runner Senator Hillary Clinton, in a state whose voters are almost 95 percent white.  The former civil rights lawyer and community activist⁴ attracted young and independent voters to turn out for the Iowa caucuses in record numbers by promising⁵ to stand for change.  Speaking to crowds on the morning after his win, Obama was jubilant, seeing a real boost to his dream of becoming the first African-American president. 

"We will change the world," he said.  "That is the opportunity that begins right here, right now, four days from now in New Hampshire.  Stand with me, thank you."

His victory stung Senator Clinton, 60, who despite having raised $100 million for her campaign, came in third place in Iowa.  She has been emphasizing her 35 years of experience.  She says she is the candidate ready to hit the ground running on her first day as president in the White House, she spent eight years there as President Bill Clinton's First Lady.  She also resumed the campaign fight in New Hampshire Friday, where polls indicate a virtual tie between her and Obama.

"Are you ready for the next five days?  Well so am I," she said.  "I am looking forward to meeting as many people here across New Hampshire."

Former U.S. Senator John Edwards also vowed⁶ to fight on in the Democratic race, though he is trailing Clinton and Obama in the polls in New Hampshire.  Democratic Senators Joe Biden and Christopher Dodd dropped out of the race after poor showing in Iowa.

The other political earthquake in Iowa was triggered by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who was relatively⁷ unknown outside his home state just weeks ago.  He was vastly outspent in Iowa by former Massachusetts Governor Mitt⁸ Romney, but beat him by a wide margin.

The likable, joke-telling former Baptist minister has criticized the corporate⁹ greed of Wall Street and called President Bush's foreign policy "arrogant¹⁰", which has not made him a favorite of the Republican Party's political establishment.  But Evangelical Christians¹¹, who are strong in Iowa, turned out in full force for Huckabee. He is trailing Romney and Arizona U.S. Senator John McCain in the polls in New Hampshire, but he hopes to gain ground.

"My tax plan, which would completely overhaul¹² the tax system, is connecting with voters in New Hampshire," he said.  "We only have a few days to close the sale, but I think the momentum¹³ coming out of Iowa is going to be good for us."

After his stinging defeat in Iowa, the former Massachusetts governor and successful businessman Romney was cautious, seeking to downplay expectations.

"I'd like to do very well in New Hampshire, of course I'd like to win," he noted¹⁴.  "I don't think you have to win Iowa or New Hampshire, we've had nominees¹⁵ that haven't won either state before." 

The candidates only have four days to savor¹⁶ their victories or recover from their losses until New Hampshire voters have their say on Tuesday.

1 stunning   

adj.极好的；使人晕倒的

参考例句：

• His plays are distinguished only by their stunning mediocrity.他的戏剧与众不同之处就是平凡得出奇。
• The finished effect was absolutely stunning.完工后的效果非常美。

2 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

3 margin   

n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘

参考例句：

• We allowed a margin of 20 minutes in catching the train.我们有20分钟的余地赶火车。
• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。

4 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

5 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

6 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

7 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

8 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。

9 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

10 arrogant   

adj.傲慢的，自大的

参考例句：

• You've got to get rid of your arrogant ways.你这骄傲劲儿得好好改改。
• People are waking up that he is arrogant.人们开始认识到他很傲慢。

11 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

12 overhaul   

v./n.大修，仔细检查

参考例句：

• Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。
• It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。

13 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

14 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。

15 nominees   

n.被提名者，被任命者( nominee的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• She's one of the nominees. 她是被提名者之一。 来自超越目标英语 第2册
• A startling number of his nominees for senior positions have imploded. 他所提名的高级官员被否决的数目令人震惊。 来自互联网

16 savor   

vt.品尝，欣赏；n.味道，风味；情趣，趣味

参考例句：

• The soup has a savor of onion.这汤有洋葱味。
• His humorous remarks added a savor to our conversation.他幽默的话语给谈话增添了风趣。