VOA标准英语2008年-Palin Selection Boosts Republican Ticket

Republican presidential candidate John McCain's selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his vice¹ presidential running mate has shaken up the U.S. presidential race in some unexpected ways. VOA national correspondent Jim Malone has more from Washington.

This week the McCain campaign rumbled² into the key battleground state of Ohio, riding on a crest³ of recent public opinion polls that show Senator McCain either pulling even or moving ahead of his Democratic opponent, Senator Barack Obama.
　

Sarah Palin pauses during her speech at a campaign event in Lebanon, Ohio, 9 Sept. 2008

Leading the way for McCain is his vice presidential running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

Palin carries out the traditional duty of introducing McCain during campaign stops, but it is clear the large crowds are just as eager to see her as they are the Republican presidential nominee⁵.

"He is too humble⁶ to say this on his own behalf, so let me say it for him," she said. "There is only one man in this election who has ever really fought for you, and that man is Senator John McCain!"

Since last week's Republican convention, the McCain-Palin ticket has enjoyed a major boost in the polls, and the Palin selection seems to have sparked new enthusiasm for the Republican ticket.

Senator McCain now casts the Republican ticket as one primarily focused on bringing change and reform to Washington.

"My friends, I am so honored to be introduced by Governor Sarah Palin today," he said. "But I cannot wait to introduce her to Washington, D.C. and the big spenders!"

Like most Americans, the Obama campaign seemed caught off guard by Palin's selection.
　

Sen. Barack Obama addresses a news conference in Dayton, Ohio, 9 Sept. 2008

Senator Obama acknowledges Palin's candidacy has shaken up the race for the White House.

"And she has brought excitement to the Republican Party, there is no doubt about that," he said. "I think what we are going to have to do is see how things settle out over the next few weeks when people start examining who is actually going to deliver on the issues that people care about.

Obama's vice presidential running mate, Senator Joe Biden of Delaware, says the Republicans have done a good job so far of sheltering her from inquisitive⁷ reporters.

"Sarah Palin eventually is going to have to do what I do," he said. "She is going to have to go on 'Meet the Press' like I do and have them come at her like they come at me. She is going to have to answer questions. She is going to have to say where she is going to take America and she is going to have to defend her record."
　

Supporters hold signs at a campaign event by for Republican presidential candidate John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin in Lebanon, Ohio, 9 Sept. 2008

In the short term, the polls suggest Palin is reaping some political benefits for the Republicans, especially among social conservative voters.

"John McCain's supporters are happy she was chosen, 85 percent of McCain supporters say that," says Kathleen Frankovic, director of surveys for CBS News. "And among evangelical Christians⁸, the base that McCain needed to shore up, there has also been an increase in enthusiasm. Those evangelicals are happy with the Palin selection."

Biographer Kaylene Johnson says Sarah Palin's appeal extends beyond social conservative voters to those concerned with ethics⁹ and reform in government.

"I think she has really energized¹⁰ the McCain ticket, that is for sure," she says. "She is all of those things that people have been asking for in terms of something new and in terms of change. I think what she really brings to the ticket is energy and then a fresh approach to transparency and ethics in government."

Political experts say the addition of Palin to the Republican ticket has helped McCain as he competes with Obama on the issue of change.

"Obama has been put in a corner by McCain," says Larry Sabato, who directs the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. "McCain has essentially¹¹ stolen his theme of reform and change and bipartisanship. Obama has got to work very hard, very quickly to get it back."

Palin's key test could come on October 2 when she and Democrat⁴ Joe Biden will take part in a vice presidential candidates debate in St. Louis.

Senators McCain and Obama will square off in three presidential debates as well, with the first scheduled for September 26 in Mississippi.

1 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。

2 rumbled   

发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋）

参考例句：

• The machine rumbled as it started up. 机器轰鸣着发动起来。
• Things rapidly became calm, though beneath the surface the argument rumbled on. 事情迅速平静下来了，然而，在这种平静的表面背后争论如隆隆雷声，持续不断。

3 crest   

n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖

参考例句：

• The rooster bristled his crest.公鸡竖起了鸡冠。
• He reached the crest of the hill before dawn.他于黎明前到达山顶。

4 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。

5 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。

6 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

7 inquisitive   

adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的

参考例句：

• Children are usually inquisitive.小孩通常很好问。
• A pat answer is not going to satisfy an inquisitive audience.陈腔烂调的答案不能满足好奇的听众。

8 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

9 ethics   

n.伦理学；伦理观，道德标准

参考例句：

• The ethics of his profession don't permit him to do that.他的职业道德不允许他那样做。
• Personal ethics and professional ethics sometimes conflict.个人道德和职业道德有时会相互抵触。

10 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

11 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。