2006年VOA标准英语-Pollster: Democrats Likely to Gain in US Congre

By John Featherly
Washington
26 October 2006
 
With U.S. midterm Congressional elections just two weeks away, pollsters are trying to determine how Americans are likely to vote.  Well-known pollster, John Zogby, says many races are close, but Democrats¹ are likely to make significant gains.

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		John Zogby

John Zogby, who heads the well-known Zogby International polling company, has been surveying voters across the United States in the run up to the November 7 elections.

He says if the election was held today, Democrats would likely gain between 25 and 30 seats in the House of Representatives and four in the Senate.  That would give them a majority in the House, but not in the Senate.

Zogby says 15 to 20 percent of voters, many of whom identify themselves as Republicans, are still undecided.

"There is still the potential for fluidity here," he said.  "However there is no question about the fact the Republicans find themselves severely² wounded right now."

Zogby added that there is the potential for very low voter turnout at the election and polls are not showing a lot of enthusiasm on the part of Democratic voters.

"Whoever votes gets to determine the future," he added.  "But it is hard to say the American people find this election significant if 39 or 40 percent of the voters turn out to vote."

He says Hispanic voters, who have been turning out at the polls in growing numbers, will likely play an important part in the election.

He also says polls are suggesting Arab and Muslim Americans will vote heavily Democratic.

"Arab Americans in general, Christians³ and Muslims, are giving Democrats overwhelming support in the gubernatorial [races for governor] and senate races in Michigan, in Ohio, in Pennsylvania and in Florida," he noted⁴.

Zogby stressed it is impossible to make a definitive⁵ prediction about the upcoming election at this time.  He says many undecided voters do not seriously consider who they will vote for until the final days before the election.

1 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》

2 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

3 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

4 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。

5 definitive   

adj.确切的，权威性的；最后的，决定性的

参考例句：

• This book is the definitive guide to world cuisine.这本书是世界美食的权威指南。
• No one has come up with a definitive answer as to why this should be so.至于为什么该这样，还没有人给出明确的答复。