VOA常速英语2008年-Clinton Says She's in US Presidential Race to S

By Jim Malone
Washington
31 March 2008

Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton is sounding a defiant¹ tone in response to calls from some supporters of rival Barack Obama that she quit the presidential race. Meanwhile, the presumptive Republican candidate, Senator John McCain, has begun a week-long tour aimed at reintroducing himself to American voters. VOA National Correspondent Jim Malone reports from Washington.

The two Democratic candidates campaigned in Pennsylvania in advance of the primary there on April 22.

Opinion polls give Clinton a lead in Pennsylvania and the New York Senator has been quick to cite them as she fends² off suggestions from Obama supporters that it is time for her to quit the race.

"You know, there are some folks saying we ought to stop these elections," she said. "I did not think we believed that in America."

Senator Clinton continues to get help from her husband, former President Bill Clinton. He argues against the view that the lengthy³ nomination⁴ battle will hurt the Democratic Party.

"We are strengthening the Democratic Party. Chill out! We are going to win this election if we just chill out and let everybody have their say," she said.

Some prominent Obama supporters have urged Clinton to quit because they believe there is no way she can catch the Illinois Senator in the race for party nominating delegates.

But Senator Obama has yet to join those calling on Clinton to withdraw.

"My attitude is that Senator Clinton can run as long as she wants," he said. "Her name is on the ballot⁵ and she is a fierce and formidable competitor."

Some Democrats⁶ fear the party could be torn apart if the nomination race goes all the way to the party's national nominating convention in Denver in late August.

Analysts⁷ have suggested party leaders may eventually turn to a respected figure like former Vice⁸ President Al Gore⁹ to mediate¹⁰ between Obama and Clinton before the convention. But Gore showed little interest in that in an interview with the CBS program 60 Minutes.

"I am not applying for the job of broker," he said.

While the Democrats focus on Pennsylvania and nine other upcoming nominating contests that go into June, Republican John McCain has begun an effort to reintroduce himself to the American public.

McCain began a biographical campaign tour in Mississippi, where he recalled the influence of his father and grandfather, both of whom were admirals in the U.S. Navy.

"My grandfather was an aviator¹¹ and my father was a submariner. They were my first heroes," he said. "I have been an imperfect servant of my country for many years. But I am their son, and they showed me how to love my country, and that has made all the difference for me, my friends, all the difference in the world."

Later this week, McCain is scheduled to speak in Maryland at the U.S. Naval¹² Academy, from which he graduated, and a Naval air station in Florida where he trained as an aviator.

McCain spent five-and-one-half years as a prisoner of war after being shot down over North Vietnam in 1967.

1 defiant   

adj.无礼的，挑战的

参考例句：

• With a last defiant gesture,they sang a revolutionary song as they were led away to prison.他们被带走投入监狱时，仍以最后的反抗姿态唱起了一支革命歌曲。
• He assumed a defiant attitude toward his employer.他对雇主采取挑衅的态度。

2 fends   

v.独立生活，照料自己( fend的第三人称单数 )；挡开，避开

参考例句：

3 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。

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 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

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 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。

8 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。

9 gore   

n.凝血，血污；v.（动物）用角撞伤，用牙刺破；缝以补裆；顶

参考例句：

• The fox lay dying in a pool of gore.狐狸倒在血泊中奄奄一息。
• Carruthers had been gored by a rhinoceros.卡拉瑟斯被犀牛顶伤了。

10 mediate   

vi.调解，斡旋；vt.经调解解决；经斡旋促成

参考例句：

• The state must mediate the struggle for water resources.政府必须通过调解来解决对水资源的争夺。
• They may be able to mediate between parties with different interests.他们也许能在不同利益政党之间进行斡旋。

11 aviator   

n.飞行家，飞行员

参考例句：

• The young aviator bragged of his exploits in the sky.那名年轻的飞行员吹嘘他在空中飞行的英勇事迹。
• Hundreds of admirers besieged the famous aviator.数百名爱慕者围困那个著名飞行员。

12 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。