VOA常速英语2008年-Texans Go to Polls in 'Two-Step' Presidential P

By Greg Flakus
Houston
04 March 2008

Voters are at the polls in Texas in what many analysts¹ have said could be the last stand for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. But, as VOA's Greg Flakus reports from Houston, pollsters are now saying it is too close to predict.

As little as a week ago many political observers were comparing the Clinton campaign to the defenders² of the Alamo, that famous showdown, in March, 1836, between Texas independence fighters and the Mexican army that ended with no survivors³ on the Texas side. There were even national pundits⁴ calling for Clinton to drop out before the primary in order to avoid an embarrassing defeat.

But in recent days she has taken a more aggressive approach to her campaign, questioning opponent Barack Obama's readiness to be commander in chief in a TV ad and hammering away on economic issues that she contends he is too inexperienced to tackle. The most recent polls show the two candidates in a dead heat, with one even giving Clinton a slight edge.

In a local radio interview, her husband, former President Bill Clinton, backed away from a statement he made a week ago indicating that Mrs. Clinton needs to win both Texas and Ohio to stay in the race. He now says she can win the nomination⁵ by doing well here and then concentrating on upcoming primaries in states like Pennsylvania, where she has a commanding lead in the polls.

Speaking to reporters as she stumped⁶ across Texas on primary day, Senator Clinton seemed energized⁷ and ready to fight on.

"This is a really invigorating campaign and it is just really hitting its stride," she said.

Clinton has strong support among Hispanics here in Texas and she has also struck a chord with many moderate Democrats⁸ who are concerned that Obama may not be ready for the presidency⁹. Texas is a state with close ties to the military and many Hispanic families, in particular, have a tradition of serving in the armed forces. Neither Clinton nor Obama have military experience, but some veterans see her as stronger on defense¹⁰ issues.

In a meeting with veterans here in Houston on the eve of the primary, Barack Obama expressed his admiration¹¹ for those who serve and promised to support them through veteran programs.

"America enters into a sacred trust with every single person who puts on the uniform. That trust is simple: America will be there for you, just as you have been there for America," he said.

Obama's strongest support in the lone¹² star state comes from blacks and young people. Even among Hispanics, he has won over about a third of those who are eligible¹³ to vote by concentrating his message on the youth.

While the popular vote is expected to be close, Obama is expected to do better in the delegate contest. That is because Texas has both a primary and a caucus¹⁴. Obama has done well in almost all the states where caucuses¹⁵ have been held and his supporters are expected to turn out in large numbers in cities like Houston, Dallas and Austin, where more delegates are awarded based on past Democratic turnout in elections.

There is a similar system for Republicans, but Senator John McCain is far ahead of his lat viable¹⁶ opponent, Mike Huckabee, so no complications are expected. But the tightness of the Democratic race, combined with the confusing and convoluted¹⁷ process could make it difficult for either candidate to claim a clear, momentum-generating victory.

1 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。

2 defenders   

n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者

参考例句：

• The defenders were outnumbered and had to give in. 抵抗者寡不敌众，只能投降。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• After hard fighting,the defenders were still masters of the city. 守军经过奋战仍然控制着城市。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

4 pundits   

n.某一学科的权威，专家( pundit的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The pundits disagree on the best way of dealing with the problem. 如何妥善处理这一问题，专家众说纷纭。 来自辞典例句
• That did not stop Chinese pundits from making a fuss over it. 这并没有阻止中国的博学之士对此大惊小怪。 来自互联网

5 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。

6 stumped   

僵直地行走，跺步行走( stump的过去式和过去分词 )； 把（某人）难住； 使为难； （选举前）在某一地区作政治性巡回演说

参考例句：

• Jack huffed himself up and stumped out of the room. 杰克气喘吁吁地干完活，然后很艰难地走出房间。
• He was stumped by the questions and remained tongue-tied for a good while. 他被问得张口结舌，半天说不出话来。

7 energized   

v.给予…精力，能量( energize的过去式和过去分词 )；使通电

参考例句：

• We are energized by love if we put our energy into loving. 如果我们付出能量去表现爱意，爱就会使我们充满活力。 来自辞典例句
• I am completely energized and feeling terrific. 我充满了活力，感觉非常好。 来自辞典例句

8 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》

9 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。

10 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

11 admiration   

n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕

参考例句：

• He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
• We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。

12 lone   

adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的

参考例句：

• A lone sea gull flew across the sky.一只孤独的海鸥在空中飞过。
• She could see a lone figure on the deserted beach.她在空旷的海滩上能看到一个孤独的身影。

13 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

14 caucus   

n.秘密会议；干部会议；v.（参加）干部开会议

参考例句：

• This multi-staged caucus takes several months.这个多级会议常常历时好几个月。
• It kept the Democratic caucus from fragmenting.它也使得民主党的核心小组避免了土崩瓦解的危险。

15 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

16 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。

17 convoluted   

adj.旋绕的；复杂的

参考例句：

• The snake slithered through a convoluted path.蛇在羊肠小道上爬行。
• The policy is so convoluted even college presidents are confused.这项政策太令人费解，甚至连大学校长们也是一头雾水。