VOA标准英语2011--Republican Presidential Hopefuls Prepare

Republican Presidential Hopefuls Prepare for Iowa Test Vote

Republican presidential candidates are giving speeches and greeting voters in the Midwestern state of Iowa in advance of a straw poll, or test vote. The Saturday vote will be an early indication of support for those hoping to challenge President Barack Obama in next year’s election. Candidates who do well in the straw poll often have an advantage when the nomination¹ battle begins in earnest, with the Iowa presidential caucuses² early next year.
Nine Republicans are on the ballot³, including Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann.
“Make Barack Obama a one-term president, turn the economy around, grow the economy," Bachman told voters, "grow jobs and we will restore the promise of the future to the next generation. It will happen.”
If Bachmann does well in the straw poll, it could move her closer to the current Republican frontrunner, former Massachusetts governor Mitt⁴ Romney.
Romney campaigned in Iowa, but is skipping the straw poll to focus instead on the early primary state of New Hampshire, where he is hammering away at President Obama’s handling of the economy.
“The truth is that the buck⁵ does stop at the president’s desk," noted⁶ Romney, "and he needs to exert the leadership necessary to restore America’s financial foundation.”
Texas Governor Rick Perry is expected to join the Republican race soon and public opinion polls indicate he is a potentially strong contender.
“When I see Americans going to work every day to make a better life for their children I know that our country’s best days are still ahead of us,” Perry said.
Political strategist Mark Penn says the straw poll is the first opportunity for the public to focus on some little-known Republican contenders.
“They clearly don’t have somebody who the American public thinks of as on an equal footing yet with President Obama," explained Penn. "Perry, again, could shake up the race somewhat. He has got a strong background as governor and no one is really dominating in the field.”
A strong showing in the straw poll could set the stage for success in Iowa's presidential caucuses next year.
In 2008, Barack Obama's victory in the caucuses was his springboard to win the Democratic Party nomination - and eventually, the White House.

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 caucuses   

n.（政党决定政策或推举竞选人的）核心成员( caucus的名词复数 )；决策干部；决策委员会；秘密会议

参考例句：

• Republican caucuses will happen in about 410 towns across Maine. 共和党团会议选举将在缅因州的约410个城镇进行。 来自互联网

3 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。

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 buck   

n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃

参考例句：

• The boy bent curiously to the skeleton of the buck.这个男孩好奇地弯下身去看鹿的骸骨。
• The female deer attracts the buck with high-pitched sounds.雌鹿以尖声吸引雄鹿。

6 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。