voa标准英语2008年-Obama Candidacy Resonates with Black Voters in

New York City is heavily Democratic and Senator Barack Obama is expected to do well Tuesday in the city and throughout the state. VOA's Margaret Besheer talked to voters outside a polling center in Harlem and files this report.
　

Ijeoma Mbamalu rests her head on her mother, Nkiru Mbamalu as they wait in line to vote outside a community center in the Harlem section of New York, 04 Nov 2008

In this traditionally African American and Hispanic enclave, many voters say they hope this will be an historic vote and the country's first black president will be elected.

Many voters said they cast their ballots¹ early this morning, but at mid-day the line outside this community center, which is this neighborhood's polling station, barely extended outside the front door.

Sixty-two year old Carmen, who happened to be walking by, says she was in line to vote at 5:30 this morning - a half hour before the polls opened. She says she voted for Barack Obama and for what she hopes will be real change.

"We need it [change]," said Carmen. "Especially the poor people. We really need it. It has been eight hard years, we can't get another four. Impossible."
　

Front pages of local newspapers, New York, 04 Oct 2008

For many young African Americans in this mostly lower income neighborhood, Barack Obama's candidacy represents not just hope for this country, but also for them personally.

Thomas, 36, is a graphic² designer. "Now when your grandmother tells you that, baby you can be the president of the United States, hey, you don't have to look at her doubtful now," he said. "You can say it is the truth."

But Joshua, another young African American man, points out that part of Obama's appeal is that he transcends³ racial lines.

"It also proves a lot to how many black people are behind Barack Obama, but also how many white people are behind Barack Obama - that's also a startling change that a lot of black people notice," he said.

Joshua also credited Obama's candidacy for encouraging those who had not been engaged in the electoral process before to become involved.

"It is exciting to see so many people engaged in the electoral process," he said. "It is exciting to see people that were feeling disenfranchised or feeling that they weren't part of the process, exercising their American right to vote."

Voters in Harlem say they worry about the same issues that concern most other Americans - the economy, jobs, their retirement⁴ savings⁵ and the war in Iraq.

They say they are ready for change on a big-scale, and they hope Barack Obama will be the man to deliver it.

1 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 graphic   

adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的

参考例句：

• The book gave a graphic description of the war.这本书生动地描述了战争的情况。
• Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons.用图标来区分重要的文本项。

3 transcends   

超出或超越（经验、信念、描写能力等）的范围( transcend的第三人称单数 )； 优于或胜过…

参考例句：

• The chemical dilution technique transcends most of the difficulties. 化学稀释法能克服大部分困难。
• The genius of Shakespeare transcends that of all other English poets. 莎士比亚的才华胜过所有的其他英国诗人。

4 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

5 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。