voa标准英语2008年-McCain Works to Close Gap in US Presidential Ra

With four days left in the U.S. presidential campaign, Republican John McCain is mounting a furious last minute bid to overtake Democrat¹ Barack Obama in the polls. VOA National correspondent Jim Malone reports on the final days of the 2008 race for president.
　

Sen. John McCain shakes hands with supporters at end of a campaign stop in Steubenville, Ohio, 31 Oct. 2008

Senator McCain focused on Ohio Friday. No Republican has ever won the presidency² without winning Ohio, and the state has voted with the winning presidential candidate in the last 11 presidential elections.

"There's just four days left," he said. "The pundits³ have written us off, just like they have done before. But we are closing, my friends, and we are going to win in Ohio!"

McCain continues to pound Democrat Barack Obama on the issue of taxes and continues to question Obama's readiness to be commander in chief.
　

Republican VP candidate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin addresses a crowd of supporters in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, 31 Oct. 2008

McCain's vice⁴ presidential running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, defended the Republican attacks on Obama at a rally in Pennsylvania.

"There is nothing mean-spirited or negative at all about calling someone out on their record, their plans and their associations," she said.

For his part, Senator Obama urged his supporters not to let up in the final days of the campaign, even though Obama leads McCain by an average of six points in national public opinion polls.
　

Sen. Barack Obama waves to supporters during a downtown rally in Des Moines, Iowa, 31 Oct. 2008

Obama campaigned Friday in the Midwest state of Iowa. Obama's victory in the Iowa party caucuses⁵ in January set him on a course to win the Democratic Party's presidential nomination⁶.

"And what you started here in Iowa has swept the nation! We are seeing the same turnout, we are seeing the same people going and getting in line, volunteers and people participating," he said. "A whole new way of doing democracy started right here in Iowa, and it's all across the country now!"

In the final days of the campaign, high profile politicians from both parties are out trying to help the two candidates.

McCain is getting help from California Governor Arnold Scharzenegger and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Obama has enlisted⁷ former President Bill Clinton and former vice president Al Gore⁸.

Gore told a Florida rally Friday that an Obama victory would improve the U.S. image around the world.

"This is our chance, all of us, to say don't ever count America out," he said. "The United States of America is the miracle of world history. We are coming back! We are coming back!"

Gore urged Florida Democrats⁹ to vote early in advance of Tuesday's election. Gore's narrow loss in Florida eight years go to then Texas Governor George Bush cost him the presidential election.

McCain supporters are taking some last-minute encouragement from recent polls that suggest the race is tightening¹⁰ in key states like Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

But the Obama campaign is broadening its television advertising¹¹ campaign in the final days to include the states of North Dakota and Georgia, states that have reliably supported Republican presidential candidates in recent years.

The Obama campaign will also begin airing ads in McCain's home state of Arizona in the wake of recent polls that show an unexpectedly close race there.

Both candidates will maintain an exhausting travel schedule through Monday as they look to lock up votes in the state-by-state electoral tally¹² that determines who wins the presidency. The winning candidate must secure a minimum of 270 electoral votes out of a total of 538.

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 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

3 pundits   

n.某一学科的权威，专家( pundit的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The pundits disagree on the best way of dealing with the problem. 如何妥善处理这一问题，专家众说纷纭。 来自辞典例句
• That did not stop Chinese pundits from making a fuss over it. 这并没有阻止中国的博学之士对此大惊小怪。 来自互联网

4 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。

5 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

6 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。

7 enlisted   

adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持）

参考例句：

• enlisted men and women 男兵和女兵
• He enlisted with the air force to fight against the enemy. 他应募加入空军对敌作战。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 gore   

n.凝血，血污；v.（动物）用角撞伤，用牙刺破；缝以补裆；顶

参考例句：

• The fox lay dying in a pool of gore.狐狸倒在血泊中奄奄一息。
• Carruthers had been gored by a rhinoceros.卡拉瑟斯被犀牛顶伤了。

9 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》

10 tightening   

上紧，固定，紧密

参考例句：

• Make sure the washer is firmly seated before tightening the pipe. 旋紧水管之前，检查一下洗衣机是否已牢牢地固定在底座上了。
• It needs tightening up a little. 它还需要再收紧些。

11 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

12 tally   

n.计数器，记分，一致，测量；vt.计算，记录，使一致；vi.计算，记分，一致

参考例句：

• Don't forget to keep a careful tally of what you spend.别忘了仔细记下你的开支账目。
• The facts mentioned in the report tally to every detail.报告中所提到的事实都丝毫不差。