VOA常速英语2008年-Obama Picks Up Key Endorsement in Pennsylvania

By Jim Malone
Washington
28 March 2008

Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama picked up a potentially helpful endorsement² Friday, even as the national party chairman urged Obama and rival Hillary Clinton to tone down their personal attacks.  VOA National correspondent Jim Malone has the latest on the U.S. presidential race from Washington. 

Obama won the support of Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania.  Casey is a centrist Democrat¹ who is popular in his home state and might help Obama in Pennsylvania's presidential primary on April 22.

Casey told supporters at an Obama rally in Pittsburgh that Obama would set the country on the right path if he is elected president in November.

"A path first of all of change, a path of a new kind of politics, and finally a path of hope and healing," he said.  "I believe in my heart that there is one person who is uniquely qualified³ to lead us in that new direction, and that is Barack Obama!"

Public opinion polls continue to show Hillary Clinton in the lead in Pennsylvania.  Clinton is counting on a big win in Pennsylvania to keep alive her hopes of winning the Democratic Party nomination⁴.

The lengthy⁵ and increasingly bitter nomination fight has some Democrats⁶ worried that the party may have trouble unifying⁷ behind a candidate in time for the November election.

National Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean urged both candidates and their supporters to tone down the personal attacks that have intensified⁸ in recent weeks.

"We do need to keep in mind that personal attacks now often do have the seeds of demoralization later on, so I want to make sure this campaign stays on the high ground," he said, speaking on CBS television.

Recent polls suggest a sizable number of Democrats might be open to supporting Republican John McCain, depending on who emerges as the Democratic nominee⁹.

Both Obama and Clinton have acknowledged the concerns about party unity¹⁰ in some recent campaign appearances.

"The truth is, I think, that this has been a great campaign, a great primary season," said Obama, speaking in Pennsylvania.  "It has been hard, it has been tough, but it has been hard and tough because both Senator Clinton and I understand what is at stake, how important this race is, how important the next presidency¹¹ will be to the American people and to families right here in Pennsylvania."

Clinton also tried to ease concerns during a rally in North Carolina. "When this contest is over and we have a nominee, we are going to close ranks," she said.  "We are going to be united, and I have no doubt about that.  Because the most important goal is for us to put a Democrat back into the White House next January!"

At least one prominent Democrat is suggesting that the time to close ranks is already at hand.  Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont told public radio in Vermont Friday that there is no way for Clinton to catch Obama in the delegate count and that she should step aside and support Obama.  Leahy previously¹² announced his support for Obama.

Clinton has said she believes the voters should have a say in the 10 remaining nominating contests that last into early June.

Meanwhile, the presumed Republican nominee, Senator John McCain, continues to be overshadowed by the Democratic race.  But McCain is about to embark¹³ on a campaign tour aimed at reintroducing him to the public and emphasizing his long experience in foreign policy and national security issues.

The McCain campaign is also releasing the first television ad of the general election campaign recalling the Arizona Republican's courage as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam for five and one-half years.

McCain is also focused on fundraising for the upcoming general election campaign and has slowly begun the closely guarded process of choosing a vice¹⁴ presidential running mate.

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 endorsement   

n.背书；赞成，认可，担保；签(注)，批注

参考例句：

• We are happy to give the product our full endorsement.我们很高兴给予该产品完全的认可。
• His presidential campaign won endorsement from several celebrities.他参加总统竞选得到一些社会名流的支持。

3 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

4 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。

5 lengthy   

adj.漫长的，冗长的

参考例句：

• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
• The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。

6 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》

7 unifying   

使联合( unify的现在分词 )； 使相同； 使一致； 统一

参考例句：

• In addition, there were certain religious bonds of a unifying kind. 此外，他们还有某种具有一种统一性质的宗教上的结合。
• There is a unifying theme, and that is the theme of information flow within biological systems. 我们可以用一个总的命题，把生物学系统内的信息流来作为这一研究主题。

8 intensified   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
• The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 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。

10 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

11 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。

12 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

13 embark   

vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机

参考例句：

• He is about to embark on a new business venture.他就要开始新的商业冒险活动。
• Many people embark for Europe at New York harbor.许多人在纽约港乘船去欧洲。

14 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。