VOA标准英语2008年-Republican US Presidential Contenders Spar Over

By Jim Malone
Bedford, New Hampshire
07 January 2008

In the final hours before Tuesday's New Hampshire presidential primary, the top Republican contenders clashed over taxes, immigration and presidential leadership in a debate broadcast by the Fox News Channel.  VOA national correspondent Jim Malone is following the U.S. presidential race in New Hampshire.

After all the talk and debate about who would be the biggest tax cutter or the toughest on illegal immigration, the Republican contenders made a final pitch for support based on their ability to lead.

Senator John McCain of Arizona has vaulted¹ into a narrow lead in several recent public opinion polls in New Hampshire.  McCain stressed his military background and years of experience in the Senate dealing² with foreign policy and national security issues.

"It is important to know the players, know the issues, have the knowledge and background in order to address the issues," McCain said. "And I will leave that to the judgment³ of the American people as to whether that is important in these very, very challenging times."

Trailing McCain but still within striking distance in the Republican race is former Massachusetts Governor Mitt⁴ Romney.  Romney hopes to improve on a disappointing second-place showing in last week's Iowa caucuses⁵, and says he is the candidate best prepared to assume the presidency⁶.

"And what they are looking for is a president, not a general or an expert in a particular area, but instead a president who has judgment, wisdom, the ability to make difficult decisions, has the temperament⁷ to make those kinds of decisions, the calm under fire," Romney said.

Romney finished second in Iowa to former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.  Huckabee is hoping his Iowa showing will boost him in New Hampshire, but the polls have him trailing well behind both McCain and Romney.

"As far as executive experience, I have got more than anyone running for president, Democrat⁸ or Republican, in running a government," Huckabee said. "Ten and one-half years of being a governor, three years of being a lieutenant-governor."

Also taking part in Sunday's debate were former Senator Fred Thompson, of Tennessee, and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Thompson emphasized his experience as a lawyer and senator, while Giuliani focused on his leadership skills as mayor, especially in the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S.

"What America is looking for is not a perfect person," Giuliani said. "America is looking for a leader, one who can give the United States hope, one who can give the United States optimism."

A new poll by the USA Today newspaper and the Gallup organization has McCain at 34 percent in New Hampshire, followed by Romney at 30 percent, Huckabee at 13 percent, Texas Congressman⁹ Ron Paul at 8 percent and Giuliani at 8 percent.

On the Democratic side, the USA Today Gallup poll shows Senator Barack Obama of Illinois pulling away a bit from Senator Hillary Clinton of New York.  Obama has 41 percent in this latest poll, while Clinton trails with 28 percent and former Senator John Edwards of North Carolina placed third at 19 percent.

1 vaulted   

adj.拱状的

参考例句：

• She vaulted over the gate and ran up the path. 她用手一撑跃过栅栏门沿着小路跑去。
• The formal living room has a fireplace and vaulted ceilings. 正式的客厅有一个壁炉和拱形天花板。

2 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

3 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

4 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。

5 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

6 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。

7 temperament   

n.气质，性格，性情

参考例句：

• The analysis of what kind of temperament you possess is vital.分析一下你有什么样的气质是十分重要的。
• Success often depends on temperament.成功常常取决于一个人的性格。

8 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。

9 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。