VOA标准英语2008年-Voting Underway in Final US Primary Contests

By Michael Bowman
Washington
03 June 2008

America's presidential primary season ends Tuesday with contests in Montana and South Dakota. But, as we hear from VOA's Michael Bowman, events in Washington will likely determine whether Democrats¹ will have a presumptive nominee² within the next 24 hours.
　

Pedestrians3 in Billings, Mont. pass by campaign headquarters and cardboard cutout of Barack Obama, holding vote, 03 May 2008

Five months of primary contests are coming to an end as voters go to the polls in the last two Democratic presidential primaries. The frontrunner, Illinois Senator Barack Obama, had been favored to win both handily, but the latest polls suggest the race has tightened⁴ in those states.

Obama and New York Senator Hillary Clinton are vying⁵ for a total of 31 pledged delegates in Montana and South Dakota. Even if Obama wins both states, that will not give him enough for an outright⁶ win of the Democratic nomination⁷.

As a result, the Illinois senator hopes to get the backing of more of the party elders and elected officials, the so-called "super delegates." By most estimates, Obama needs the support of roughly two dozen super delegates out of the more than 150 that have still not announced their preference.

Monday, Obama picked up the endorsement⁸ of another powerful super delegate, Democratic Congressman⁹ and Majority Whip James Clyburn, who formally annonced his decision early Tuesday on NBC's Today show.

"He [Obama] is elevating the political rhetoric¹⁰, he is elevating our party, he is energizing¹¹ our country," said Clyburn. "He is bringing new voters to the process, people who are in thirst of a new vision."

Obama is planning a major address in Minneapolis, Minnesota, shortly before polls close in Montana and South Dakota.
　

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks at a campaign event in Huron, South Dakota, 29 May 2008

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton, who trails Obama by more than 150 delegates, will be addressing supporters in her home state of New York. There have been conflicting reports from officials close to the Clinton campaign about whether she intends to drop out of the race. Monday, while campaigning in South Dakota, Clinton struck a seemingly wistful tone as she stated a goal that extends beyond her political fortunes: preserving the hopes and dreams of the American people.

"I want to be sure that that dream stays alive for my daughter, for your children and your grandchildren," Clinton said. "And I do not believe that dream is given to you. I believe it is earned."

On the Republican side, Arizona Senator John McCain is already his party's presumptive nominee. Both parties will formally nominate their presidential choices at party conventions in late August and September.

1 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》

2 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。

3 pedestrians   

n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Several pedestrians had come to grief on the icy pavement. 几个行人在结冰的人行道上滑倒了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Pedestrians keep to the sidewalk [footpath]! 行人走便道。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 tightened   

收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧

参考例句：

• The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke. 系船的绳子突然绷断了。
• His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again. 他的食指扣住扳机，然后又松开了。

5 vying   

adj.竞争的；比赛的

参考例句：

• California is vying with other states to capture a piece of the growing communications market.为了在日渐扩大的通讯市场分得一杯羹，加利福尼亚正在和其他州展开竞争。
• Four rescue plans are vying to save the zoo.4个拯救动物园的方案正争得不可开交。

6 outright   

adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的

参考例句：

• If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事，你应该直率地对我说。
• You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。

7 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。

8 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。

9 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

10 rhetoric   

n.修辞学，浮夸之言语

参考例句：

• Do you know something about rhetoric?你懂点修辞学吗？
• Behind all the rhetoric,his relations with the army are dangerously poised.在冠冕堂皇的言辞背后，他和军队的关系岌岌可危。

11 energizing   

v.给予…精力，能量( energize的现在分词 )；使通电

参考例句：

• a refreshing and energizing fruit drink 提神并增加体能的果汁饮料
• The time required after energizing a device, before its rated output characteristics begin to apply. 从设备通电到它开始提供额定输出特性之间所需的时间。 来自辞典例句