VOA标准英语2011--Cain Surges to Lead in US Republican Pre

Cain Surges to Lead in US Republican Presidential Race

 

Georgia businessman Herman Cain is the surprise leader in the race for the Republican Party's presidential nomination¹, according to the latest poll. But some political analysts² question whether Cain has enough staying power to remain a serious contender as the first caucus³ and primary votes approach early next year.

The latest Wall Street Journal-NBC News poll has Herman Cain with 27 percent support, followed by former Massachusetts governor Mitt⁴ Romney at 23 percent. Texas Governor Rick Perry drops to third place with 16 percent.

Texas Congressman⁵ Ron Paul is in fourth place with 11 percent, and the remaining four Republican contenders trail in single digits⁶.

Cain was only at five percent in the same poll last month.

Cain is the only African-American in the Republican field and has gained notice with a smooth speaking style and an ability to connect with voters.

Cain also captured attention with a tax reform plan that would lower personal and corporate⁷ taxes to nine percent each and would impose a nine percent national sales tax. Cain defended his "9-9-9 plan" at the most recent Republican debate.

"It starts with, unlike your proposals, throwing out the current tax code," he said. "Continuing to pivot⁸ off the current tax code is not going to boost this economy."

Republican presidential candidate and businessman Herman Cain speaks as former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney listens during a Republican presidential debate at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, October 11, 2011.

Cain was the chief executive of a pizza company for many years and he also built a conservative following through a radio talk show.

Cain acknowledged on ABC's Good Morning America program that he has little foreign policy experience, but said if elected he would work to solidify⁹ ties with U.S. allies like Israel and take a tougher line toward adversaries¹⁰ like Iran.

"President Reagan's philosophy was peace through strength. My foreign policy philosophy is peace through strength and clarity," he said.

Analysts say Cain is surging because he is a fresh face in the Republican field, who excites conservative voters committed to lowering taxes and reducing the size of the federal government.

"Why is Herman Cain doing well? There are an awful lot of people who are unhappy with what is going on. That is what we need to pick up out of this poll," noted¹¹ pollster Peter Hart on MSNBC television.

Quinnipiac University pollster Peter Brown says Cain's challenge will be to continue building support even as attention on him intensifies¹².

"Cain is a favorite of many of the Tea Party types in the Republican coalition," he said. "He is obviously a strong speaker and has a business background. But with that rise in poll standing¹³ it is likely he will get media scrutiny¹⁴ and then we will see whether that helps him or hurts him."

Despite Cain's recent rise in the polls, Mitt Romney has had several strong debate performances and many Republican strategists still see him as the long-term frontrunner in the race for the Republican nomination.

1 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。

2 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。

3 caucus   

n.秘密会议；干部会议；v.（参加）干部开会议

参考例句：

• This multi-staged caucus takes several months.这个多级会议常常历时好几个月。
• It kept the Democratic caucus from fragmenting.它也使得民主党的核心小组避免了土崩瓦解的危险。

4 mitt   

n.棒球手套，拳击手套，无指手套；vt.铐住，握手

参考例句：

• I gave him a baseball mitt for his birthday.为祝贺他的生日，我送给他一只棒球手套。
• Tom squeezed a mitt and a glove into the bag.汤姆把棒球手套和手套都塞进袋子里。

5 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。

6 digits   

n.数字( digit的名词复数 )；手指，足趾

参考例句：

• The number 1000 contains four digits. 1000是四位数。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The number 410 contains three digits. 数字 410 中包括三个数目字。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

7 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

8 pivot   

v.在枢轴上转动；装枢轴，枢轴；adj.枢轴的

参考例句：

• She is the central pivot of creation and represents the feminine aspect in all things.她是创造的中心枢轴，表现出万物的女性面貌。
• If a spring is present,the hand wheel will pivot on the spring.如果有弹簧，手轮的枢轴会装在弹簧上。

9 solidify   

v.(使)凝固，(使)固化，(使)团结

参考例句：

• Opinion on this question began to solidify.对这个问题的意见开始具体化了。
• Water will solidify into ice if you freeze it.水冷冻会结冰。

10 adversaries   

n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• That would cause potential adversaries to recoil from a challenge. 这会迫使潜在的敌人在挑战面前退缩。 来自辞典例句
• Every adversaries are more comfortable with a predictable, coherent America. 就连敌人也会因有可以预料的，始终一致的美国而感到舒服得多。 来自辞典例句

11 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

12 intensifies   

n.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的名词复数 )v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• A clear atmosphere intensifies the blue of the sky. 纯净的空气使天空变得更蓝。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Blowing on fire intensifies the heat. 吹火使热度加强。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

14 scrutiny   

n.详细检查，仔细观察

参考例句：

• His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
• Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。