VOA标准英语10月-Analysts: Democrats Expected to Gain Senate Seats

Americans will be voting for members of the U.S. Congress as well as the president when they go to the polls November 4. With Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama leading in national opinion polls, congressional Democrats² hope political momentum³ for their nominee⁴ will help boost their majorities in the House of Representatives and particularly in the Senate, where key races could give Democrats enough seats to overcome Republican efforts to block legislation. VOA's Deborah Tate has a look at what is at stake in the Senate campaign.
　

Senate floor

At a Washington news conference Tuesday, the chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Senator Charles Schumer of New York, said he expects his party to increase its current 51-49 majority in the Senate. "We feel very good that we are going to pick up a successful amount of the larger number of seats and have a successful election."

Thirty-five of the 100 seats in the Senate are up for election. Of those, 12 are held by Democrats.

The question is, can Democrats hold those dozen seats and win nine more, giving them a 60 vote majority that would allow them to overcome Republican procedural hurdles⁵, or filibusters⁶.

A so-called filibuster-proof majority would allow Democrats to pass nearly any measure without seeking compromise with Republicans.

Since taking control of the Senate in the 2006 elections, Senate Democrats have had key initiatives repeatedly blocked by Republicans.

But prior to their becoming the majority party, Democrats did their share of blocking Republican measures.

Senator Schumer says it will be difficult for Democrats to win a 60 seat majority.

But the chairman of the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, Senator John Ensign of Nevada, told the same news conference that it could happen. "To say whether they are going to end up with 60 votes in the U.S. Senate is unpredictable. Is it possible? It is possible."

Ensign says the political climate does not favor Republicans this year. "In this tough election cycle, with an unpopular president, it makes it a very difficult time for them," he said.

Among those Republican incumbents⁹ facing tough reelection bids are Senators Norm Coleman of Minnesota, Elizabeth Dole¹⁰ of North Carolina, John Sununu of New Hampshire, Gordon Smith of Oregon, Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, and even Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

Republican Senator Ted⁷ Stevens of Alaska, who is on trial on corruption¹¹ charges, may lose his bid for another term if he is found guilty in a trial now underway in Washington.

The only incumbent⁸ Democrat¹ facing a difficult race for another term is Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana.

Democrats are favored to win seats being vacated by retiring Republicans in Virginia and New Mexico.

1 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。

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 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。

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 hurdles   

n.障碍( hurdle的名词复数 )；跳栏；（供人或马跳跃的）栏架；跨栏赛

参考例句：

• In starting a new company, many hurdles must be crossed. 刚开办一个公司时，必须克服许多障碍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There are several hurdles to be got over in this project. 在这项工程中有一些困难要克服。 来自辞典例句

6 filibusters   

n.掠夺兵( filibuster的名词复数 )；暴兵；（用冗长的发言）阻挠议事的议员；会议妨碍行为v.阻碍或延宕国会或其他立法机构通过提案( filibuster的第三人称单数 )；掠夺

参考例句：

• This Republican leadership has waged 78 filibusters and we still have six months to go. 而这届参议院上台才一年半，共和党领导层已经应用了78次。 来自互联网
• Yes, there were filibusters in the past-most notably by segregationists trying to block civil rights legislation. 没错，过去也有使用阻挠立法手段的——尤其是种族隔离分子阻止民权法案使用过。 来自互联网

7 ted   

vt.翻晒，撒，撒开

参考例句：

• The invaders gut ted the village.侵略者把村中财物洗劫一空。
• She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。

8 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

9 incumbents   

教区牧师( incumbent的名词复数 )； 教会中的任职者

参考例句：

• In general, incumbents have a 94 percent chance of being reelected. 通常现任官员有94%的几率会再次当选。
• This arangement yields a wonderful gain to incumbents. 这种安排为在职人员提供了意外的得益。

10 dole   

n.救济，（失业）救济金；vt.（out）发放，发给

参考例句：

• It's not easy living on the dole.靠领取失业救济金生活并不容易。
• Many families are living on the dole since the strike.罢工以来，许多家庭靠失业救济金度日。

11 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。