VOA标准英语2008年-Democrats Ready to Rally Support Behind Obama

The Democratic Party is seeking to rally support behind Barack Obama during its nominating convention, which opens Monday in Denver, Colorado. His wife Michelle, in an opening night speech, is expected to spotlight² Senator Obama's unusual life story. She is the first of many speakers scheduled to build up Obama ahead of his formal nomination³ Thursday as the party's candidate for president. VOA's Cindy Saine reports from the convention site in Denver.
　

Michelle Obama stands at the podium in preparation for her speech later in the day as she tours site of Democratic National Convention in Denver, 25 Aug 2008

Michelle Obama takes the stage during prime television time Monday night to tell millions of Americans why she believes her husband would be, as she says, an "extraordinary president." Friends of Michelle Obama, 44, an attorney, say she has always kept Barack Obama's feet firmly on the ground, and that the two are best friends and equal partners.

In recent weeks, Michelle Obama, has appeared to soften⁴ her image somewhat, after coming under attack from some Republicans for a remark she made during the primary race saying her husband's campaign made her proud of her country for the first time in her adult life.

Monday's convention events will feature Barack Obama's life story - the story of the son of a black Kenyan father and a white American mother from Kansas - who was born in multicultural⁵ Hawaii, and spent part of his youth in Indonesia, graduated from top universities and went to work as a community organizer helping⁶ the poor in Chicago. But as the Democratic candidate told supporters at a barbecue in Wisconsin before the convention, he will also seek to reassure⁷ American voters that he is like them.

"And I think what you will conclude is, 'Gee⁸, he is sort of like us. He comes from a middle class background. He went to school on scholarships,'" Obama said.
　

Sen. Barack Obama speaks at a town hall meeting at Oscar Smith High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, 22 Aug 2008

Doris Kearns Goodwin, a presidential historian and author, says that the partnership⁹ between a potential first lady and her husband can be very important to voters. And she told NBC's Today Show Monday that Barack Obama's acceptance speech at an outdoor rally on Thurday will be crucial to shaping his image in the minds of the American people.

"He is still not that well known in parts of the country," she explained. "And because he has been caricatured by the other [Republican] side, his speech is probably more important than most acceptance speeches are."

Also speaking to the Todayshow, political analyst¹⁰ Rachel Maddow said, with recent polls showing a virtual tie between Obama and his Republican rival John McCain, Obama needs to re-sell himself to American voters this week.

"What Obama is hoping for out of this week is a redefinition of himself and his campaign that is lasting¹¹ and that is appealing to the American people," she explained.

Other prominent speakers Monday night will include the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi. There will also be a video tribute to veteran Democratic Senator Ted¹ Kennedy, who is suffering from brain cancer. Ted Kennedy and his family will be in a special section at the convention center, but it is not yet clear whether he will be able to speak.

1 ted   

vt.翻晒，撒，撒开

参考例句：

• The invaders gut ted the village.侵略者把村中财物洗劫一空。
• She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。

2 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

3 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。

4 soften   

v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和

参考例句：

• Plastics will soften when exposed to heat.塑料适当加热就可以软化。
• This special cream will help to soften up our skin.这种特殊的护肤霜有助于使皮肤变得柔软。

5 multicultural   

adj.融合多种文化的，多种文化的

参考例句：

• Children growing up in a multicultural society.在多元文化社会中长大的孩子们。
• The school has been attempting to bring a multicultural perspective to its curriculum.这所学校已经在尝试将一种多元文化视角引入其课程。

6 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

7 reassure   

v.使放心，使消除疑虑

参考例句：

• This seemed to reassure him and he continued more confidently.这似乎使他放心一点，于是他更有信心地继续说了下去。
• The airline tried to reassure the customers that the planes were safe.航空公司尽力让乘客相信飞机是安全的。

8 gee   

n.马；int.向右！前进！，惊讶时所发声音；v.向右转

参考例句：

• Their success last week will gee the team up.上星期的胜利将激励这支队伍继续前进。
• Gee,We're going to make a lot of money.哇！我们会赚好多钱啦！

9 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

10 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

11 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。