VOA标准英语2013--美国投票选举结果可能表明未来趋势

 

US Election Results May Indicate Future Voting Trends 美国投票选举结果可能表明未来趋势

WASHINGTON — Tuesday's election results from two U.S. gubernatorial races are being seen by some observers as an indication of how Americans may vote in next year's Congressional elections. 

The off-year elections were the first time voters have gone to the polls following the 16-day federal government shutdown and the problem-plagued rollout of President Barack Obama's healthcare initiative.

The winners included a new Democratic party governor in the important swing state of Virginia - where the race was unexpectedly tight - and a Republican governor re-elected in New Jersey².  

Two different elections, influenced in different ways by the Tea Party, the ultra-conservative wing within the Republican Party.  Tea Party members of Congress brought about the U.S. government shutdown in an effort to de-fund President Obama's signature healthcare program.

Analysts³ say the unpopular shutdown hurt Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken⁴ Cuccinelli, who has strong Tea Party ties. Yet Cuccinelli narrowed the gap with his opponent by attacking Obamacare.

“Virginia understands that Obamacare is a failure and you want to be in charge of your healthcare, not the government," said Cuccinelli.

In the end, Virginia voters chose Democrat¹ Terry McAuliffe, who promised bipartisanship.

"Just think what we can accomplish in Virginia when we work together," he said in his victory speech.

And, in New Jersey, it was a big re-election win for Republican Chris Christie, who claimed a victory that also included Democrats⁵ and minorities.

“Leadership is much less about talking and more about listening," Christie said. "Sitting around a table and listening to each other and showing them respect.”  

Christie's win was particularly notable, said Tad Devine, a Democratic strategist,

“He’s been able to take a very democratic state - Obama won New Jersey by 17 points in the last two elections - and become a governor who could not only win a close election as he did the first time, but win a landslide⁶ election," he said.

Republican strategist Ford⁷ O’Connell said Tea Party Republicans need to learn from the winning candidates.

"It leaves the Tea Party in an echo chamber⁸, just talking to the base," O'Connell said.  "The real problem for the Tea Party is how do they expand their appeal beyond the Republican base.”

The internal battle ahead in upcoming national elections is for the heart and soul of the Republican Party, say analysts.  Does the party tilt⁹ toward the extreme conservatism of the Tea Party or lean more moderate?  

“Depending on how this battle turns out, it could lead to more battles and dysfunction and government shutdowns," said O'Connell.  "And that’s something that people all over the world have an eye on because America is still the most robust¹⁰ economy in the world.”

O’Connell believes Tuesday's results will embolden¹¹ the Tea Party to continue to go after Obamacare as an issue they can win on in future elections. But the loss in Virginia could also encourage moderate Republicans to balance those attacks to appeal to a larger electorate¹². 

1 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。

2 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

3 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。

4 ken   

n.视野，知识领域

参考例句：

• Such things are beyond my ken.我可不懂这些事。
• Abstract words are beyond the ken of children.抽象的言辞超出小孩所理解的范围.

5 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 landslide   

n.(竞选中)压倒多数的选票；一面倒的胜利

参考例句：

• Our candidate is predicated to win by a landslide.我们的候选人被预言将以绝对优势取胜。
• An electoral landslide put the Labour Party into power in 1945.1945年工党以压倒多数的胜利当选执政。

7 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

8 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

9 tilt   

v.(使)倾侧；(使)倾斜；n.倾侧；倾斜

参考例句：

• She wore her hat at a tilt over her left eye.她歪戴着帽子遮住左眼。
• The table is at a slight tilt.这张桌子没放平，有点儿歪.

10 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

11 embolden   

v.给…壮胆，鼓励

参考例句：

• Emboldened by the wine,he went over to introduce himself to her.他借酒壮胆，走上前去向她作自我介绍。
• The Prime Minister was steadily emboldened by the discovery that he faced no opposition.发现自己并未遭到反对，首相渐渐有了信心。

12 electorate   

n.全体选民；选区

参考例句：

• The government was responsible to the electorate.政府对全体选民负责。
• He has the backing of almost a quarter of the electorate.他得到了几乎1/4选民的支持。