VOA标准英语2012--Soaring Gas Prices Threaten Obama Re-Election

Soaring Gas Prices Threaten Obama Re-Election

Mitt¹ Romney leads the Republican race over Rick Santorum and would like to shift his focus to President Obama as soon as possible. “He said if he couldn’t turn it around in three years that he would be looking at a one term proposition. We are here to collect, alright? We are here to collect," he said. 

The Republican race has turned into a drawn-out slog for delegates and is likely to go on indefinitely, something experts say should help the president.

But rising gas prices in the U.S. are driving down Mr. Obama’s approval ratings and pose a major challenge for his re-election.

Outside the White House, tourists from around the country worry about soaring prices but differ on who is to blame.

“They are a little high right now being that I drove all the way up here, so it’s hit me in the pocketbook a little bit," said one man. 

“But I would think as president there is something he can do. I mean there has got to be something he can do to help with the gas," said another man. 

President Obama says Republicans are using the gas issue to launch political attacks. “There is no silver bullet and anyone who tells you otherwise isn’t really looking for a solution. They are probably just looking to ride the political wave of the moment," he said. 

The negative tone of the Republican primary battle could work to Mr. Obama’s advantage, says Quinnipiac pollster Peter Brown.

“It probably helps the president that Gingrich and Romney and now Santorum and Romney have spent a lot of time buying television commercials that are unflattering about their opponents," he said. 

But it is still a long way until November, says Henry Olsen of the American Enterprise Institute.

“Obama is in the stage where it is plausible² to think of his re-election, but it’s not certain to be guaranteeing his re-election. Obama should be feeling happy, but he should not be feeling cocky," he said. 

Recent polls show Mr. Obama easily defeating Rick Santorum if he becomes the Republican nominee³ but a much closer race if Mitt Romney is the Republican candidate in November. 

1 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。

2 plausible   

adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的

参考例句：

• His story sounded plausible.他说的那番话似乎是真实的。
• Her story sounded perfectly plausible.她的说辞听起来言之有理。

3 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。