VOA标准英语10月-Latest Presidential Debate Comes as Campaign Atta

The two presidential candidates, Republican John McCain and Democrat² Barack Obama, are preparing to hold their second of three nationally televised debates in the southern city of Nashville. VOA Correspondent Cindy Saine reports from Washington the campaigns have sharpened their verbal attacks on each other.

The debate will be in a town-hall style format³, with questions coming from undecided voters, some in the live audience and others who sent their questions through e-mail. Veteran NBC television journalist Tom Brokaw will be moderating questions that he pre-screened.
　

Barack Obama talks to reporters about economic stimulus4 package in Ashville, North Carolina, 06 Oct 2008

With Barack Obama holding a lead in public opinion polls and only 29 days left until the election, analysts⁶ say John McCain needs to do something dramatic to change the dynamics⁷ of the race.

During the past several days, McCain's campaign, led by vice⁸ presidential candidate Sarah Palin, has questioned Obama's values and his patriotism⁹.

CBS News analyst⁵ Jeff Greenfield said McCain clearly believes he needs to change the subject from the economic crisis.

"The McCain campaign has been remarkably¹⁰ candid¹ in saying flatly, even on the record, we have got to change the topic from the economy, to raise doubts about Obama or we lose," he said.

McCain prefers town-hall style debates, and often seems energized¹¹ by a live audience. But experts say such a format does not lend itself well to one candidate attacking another, for fear of being seen as too aggressive and too confrontational¹² in the presence of voters.
　

Sen. John McCain participates in a campaign event in Denver, Colorado, 02 Oct 2008

Both McCain and Obama are widely considered to have delivered a strong performance in their first debate last month.

Steve Thomma of McClatchy newspapers told MSNBC news that the candidates' style is important.

"Then there is the question of style," he said. "Who looks calm and reassuring¹³, a sober hand in a time of crisis."

NBC's Mark Whitaker said voters are not likely to want to hear about the candidates' patriotism or past associations, but are more interested in hearing how each of them intends to fix the economy.

"The voters and the people in the audience who are going to be asking the questions, they are going to want to hear about the economy, they are going to want to hear about health care and so forth," he said.

Analysts say both candidates need to show voters that they understand the economic pressures they are facing. They need to offer some ideas on how they plan to lead the country out of the global economic crisis.

1 candid   

adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的

参考例句：

• I cannot but hope the candid reader will give some allowance for it.我只有希望公正的读者多少包涵一些。
• He is quite candid with his friends.他对朋友相当坦诚。

2 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。

3 format   

n.设计，版式；[计算机]格式，DOS命令:格式化(磁盘)，用于空盘或使用过的磁盘建立新空盘来存储数据；v.使格式化，设计，安排

参考例句：

• Please format this floppy disc.请将这张软盘格式化。
• The format of the figure is very tasteful.该图表的格式很雅致。

4 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。

5 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。

6 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。

7 dynamics   

n.力学，动力学，动力，原动力；动态

参考例句：

• In order to succeed,you must master complicated knowledge of dynamics.要取得胜利，你必须掌握很复杂的动力学知识。
• Dynamics is a discipline that cannot be mastered without extensive practice.动力学是一门不做大量习题就不能掌握的学科。

8 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。

9 patriotism   

n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• They obtained money under the false pretenses of patriotism.他们以虚伪的爱国主义为借口获得金钱。

10 remarkably   

ad.不同寻常地，相当地

参考例句：

• I thought she was remarkably restrained in the circumstances. 我认为她在那种情况下非常克制。
• He made a remarkably swift recovery. 他康复得相当快。

11 energized   

v.给予…精力，能量( energize的过去式和过去分词 )；使通电

参考例句：

• We are energized by love if we put our energy into loving. 如果我们付出能量去表现爱意，爱就会使我们充满活力。 来自辞典例句
• I am completely energized and feeling terrific. 我充满了活力，感觉非常好。 来自辞典例句

12 confrontational   

adj.挑衅的；对抗的

参考例句：

• Fans love rappers partly because they strike such a confrontational pose. 乐迷热爱这些饶舌艺人一定程度上是因为他们所采取的那种战斗姿态。 来自互联网
• You prefer a non confrontational approach when it comes to resolving disputes. 面对争端，你不喜欢采用对抗性的手段来解决。 来自互联网

13 reassuring   

a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的

参考例句：

• He gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. 他轻拍了一下她的肩膀让她放心。
• With a reassuring pat on her arm, he left. 他鼓励地拍了拍她的手臂就离开了。