2007年VOA标准英语-July 4 Holiday Brings Flurry of US Presidential

By Jim Malone
Washington
05 July 2007

The July 4th Independence Day holiday brought a flurry of presidential campaign activity and fundraising news.  VOA National correspondent Jim Malone in Washington has the latest on the 2008 race for the White House.

The frontrunner for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination², Senator Hillary Clinton of New York, brought her campaign to the early contest state of Iowa where she got a little help from another well-known Democrat¹, her husband.

Former President Bill Clinton talks to his wife, Democratic presidential hopeful US Senator Hillary Clinton as she acknowledges supporters at the Fourth of July Parade in  Clear Lake, Iowa, 4 July 2007

"She is, by a long stretch, the best qualified³ non-incumbent I have ever had a chance to vote for, for president, in my entire life," said former US President Bill Clinton.

Bill Clinton remains⁴ popular with Democratic voters.  But some political strategists say Hillary Clinton would be wise to limit her husband's campaign appearances so she is not overshadowed by his presence.

Clinton's main rival, Illinois Senator Barack Obama, also campaigned in Iowa as did Republican presidential contender and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt⁵ Romney.

Romney has been spending a lot of money in the early primary states on radio and television advertisements like this one, hoping to boost his name recognition among Republican voters.

Republican presidential hopeful, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney waves to supporters during a Fourth of July Parade in Clear Lake, Iowa, 4 July 2007

ROMNEY POLITICAL AD:  "This is not the time for us to shrink from conservative principles.  It is a time for us stand in strength for a strong military, a strong economy and strong families."

Many states, including large population states like California, New York, Florida and Illinois, have moved up their primary dates next year in hopes of having a bigger impact on the nominating process.

But Democratic political strategist Bob Shrum says there will still be a lot of pressure on the candidates in both parties to do well in the smaller, early contest states like Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

"History is that if you skip Iowa, you do not get nominated," he said.  "Because those initial contests are going to determine who goes into that [so called] 'Tsumani Tuesday' at the top of voter's minds as they make their decisions."

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani continues to lead the Republican presidential field, followed by former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson, Romney and Arizona Senator John McCain.

Thompson is expected to formally enter the Republican race soon and that prospect⁶ may be hurting McCain, who is lagging behind both in the polls and in fundraising.

McCain's campaign recently had to fire dozens of staffers in a cost-saving move, and some analysts⁸ believe the Arizona senator faces a real challenge in trying to keep his candidacy afloat until primary voting begins next January.

Former Republican presidential contender Pat Buchanan is a political analyst⁷ for the MSNBC cable news network.

"You do not like to write somebody off," he said.  "But I think McCain is going to have a hard time making it in to the early caucuses⁹, and I do not see how he can come back in Iowa, I do not see what brings him back."

Thompson's expected entry into the race could also account for Giuliani losing some steam in the polls as conservative Republicans consider their options for next year.

Amy Walter, editor of the Hotline political newsletter, was a recent guest on the C-SPAN public affairs TV network.

"The Republican base is so frustrated," she noted¹⁰.  "The lack of excitement on the Republican side for their [presidential] field is so apparent.  What Republicans are looking for right now, especially conservatives, is someone who can bring them together, sort of be a uniter."

In addition to Thompson, former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia is also considering a presidential bid and says he will decide by October.

Some Democrats¹¹ continue to hope that former Vice¹² President Al Gore¹³ will make another run for the White House next year.

Former Vice President Al Gore, second from left, and his wife Tipper arrive with their son Albert Gore III, right and daughter Karenna Gore Schiff, left, for the 79th Academy Awards, 25 Feb. 2007

Gore was asked about that Thursday on NBC's Today program.

"My family has been supportive of whatever I want to do in terms of politics, but I do not have any plans or intentions to be a candidate again," he said.  "And really the main reason is that I am involved in a different kind of campaign."

Al Gore says he remains focused on the issue of global warming and on getting treatment for his son, Albert Gore III, 24.  The younger Gore was arrested in California Wednesday on suspicion of illegally possessing marijuana and prescription¹⁴ drugs after police pulled him over for speeding.

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 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。

3 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

4 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

5 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。

6 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

7 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

8 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。

9 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

10 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。

11 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》

12 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。

13 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。

14 prescription   

n.处方，开药；指示，规定

参考例句：

• The physician made a prescription against sea- sickness for him.医生给他开了个治晕船的药方。
• The drug is available on prescription only.这种药只能凭处方购买。