VOA常速英语2015--总统选举竞选活动在爱荷华举行（在线收听）

Presidential Election Campaigning Underway in Iowa 总统选举竞选活动在爱荷华举行

CEDAR FALLS, IOWA—

Although the November 2016 presidential election is over a year and half away, campaigning to choose party nominees is already underway in Iowa - a key state because it holds a party caucus early in the election season.  

Though Cedar Falls, Iowa has a population just over 40,000, right now it is the epicenter of the race for the White House.  Republican party presidential hopefuls are pressing the flesh (shaking hands with people) and answering voters' questions on issues ranging from immigration reform to marriage equality.

尽管爱荷华州锡达福尔斯市人口刚刚超过4万人,但是它成为白宫角逐的中心战场。心存希望的共和党人在这里与选民们握手致意，并且回答选民有关移民改革及婚姻权利的问题。

“My biggest concern as a voter is that America has to come back to God," said Linda Morris.

“作为选民，我最大的关切是美国必须重新投入上帝的怀抱。”

Republican voter Linda Morris was among a group attending a breakfast with candidate and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

共和党人琳达·莫里斯参加了竞选总统的前阿肯色州州长麦克·哈克比举行的一场早餐会。

“We have gone down the wrong path for the last eight years," she said.

“过去8年来我们走的一直是错误的道路。”

Conservative voter Curtis Bartlett agrees.  He wants a president that can reverse escalating racial tensions in America.

保守派选民柯迪斯·巴特莱特同意这种观点。他希望有一位能够制止美国种族关系紧张不断升级的总统。

“I don’t understand why whites and blacks can’t get together and sit down and talk over what one person wants, the other person wants too," said Bartlett.

“我不明白为什么白人和黑人不能齐聚一堂讨论下彼此所需。”

Bartlett’s list of concerns also includes the debate over same-sex marriage.

巴特莱特也关注对同性婚姻的辩论。

It’s an issue that attracted dozens of protestors outside Cedar Falls High School.  Inside, Huckabee joined fellow presidential hopeful former Senator Rick Santorum on stage to speak with conservative voters who oppose same-sex marriage.

这个问题吸引了聚集在锡达福尔斯市高中外举行抗议的数十人。在这所高中里，哈克比加入到了另外一位对竞选总统充满信心的共和党人，前国会参议员里克·桑托勒姆反对同性婚姻的保守选民们演讲当中。

“I don’t think it’s that big of an issue," said Lynn Brant.

“我认为同性婚姻不是个很大的问题。”

As a Democrat, Lynn Brant supports same-sex marriage.  In his party, the leading presidential contender is former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who also visited Cedar Falls to interact with potential supporters.

民主党人莱恩·布兰特支持同性婚姻。党内有力的总统竞选者是前国务卿希拉里·克林顿，她也来到锡达福尔斯与支持她的民众互动。

“It looks like Hillary might be a shoo-in, but I hope not.  I hope that there is a debate that she will have to defend herself and the Democrats will have a choice," said Brant.

“希拉里似乎胜券在握，但我并不希望事情这样发展。我希望有一场她必须为自己而战的辩论，而民主党人应该有选择的机会。”

Iowa matters for these candidates because it is the first state to hold an election, called a caucus.  The results can either boost or sink aspirations for the White House early in an election year depending on who wins or loses.

爱荷华州对这些候选人而言之所以成为重中之重是因为它是第一个以党团会议形式竞选总统候选人的州。爱荷华州的输赢结果可能会成为燃起或者浇灭今年这个竞选年中对于通往白宫之路的期望。

For Republicans this year, Iowa is the place where they can build name recognition and momentum ahead of the caucus.  But the growing field of candidates all vying for attention and campaign funding concerns Curtis Bartlett.

而今年对共和党人来说，爱荷华州是他们在党团会议选举前建立声望的地方。但随着越来越多的候选人都在争夺注意力和竞选资金，巴特莱特为此深感担忧。

“Because are you going to wipe out somebody who could be a good candidate right away because they can’t get the finances?" Asked Bartlett.

“难道你仅凭一个人不能拿到竞选资金就彻底排除这个可能的优秀候选人吗？”

More finances means more advertising, and in an election expected to break all previous records for money spent, every dollar counts.

更多的资金意味着更多的广告，而在这场竞选费用可能会突破往年记录的选举中每一分钱都能起到至关重要的作用。