VOA常速英语2008年-US Voters Head to Polls in Wisconsin Primary

By Greg Flakus
Houston
19 February 2008

Voters in the Midwestern state of Wisconsin are at the polls in that state's primary.  The main contest is on the Democratic Party side, where New York Senator Hillary Clinton has worked hard for a much-needed victory to slow the momentum¹ of Illinois Senator Barack Obama.  VOA's Greg Flakus has more from Houston.

As the race went down to the wire in Wisconsin, Hillary Clinton's campaign was accusing Barack Obama of plagiarism² for his use of phrases similar to those used previously³ in a speech by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick.

Obama responded by saying that he and Patrick are friends and that they often share ideas and rhetorical flourishes.  Although most independent pundits⁵ viewed the charge of plagiarism as exaggerated, they did see possible damage to Obama's image in the eyes of the voters, because his soaring oratory⁶ has been his strongest asset.

In her campaign speeches, Hillary Clinton has been stressing the word "solutions."  Clinton has said, in effect, that Obama speaks well, but that she offers real solutions to the problems that afflict⁷ the nation.

In her campaign appearances across the state, Clinton has focused on the economy and her plans to promote job growth.

"What we really need here in Wisconsin and across America is an economy that is producing good jobs with rising wages for everybody who is willing to work hard and I have been focused on the economy throughout this campaign," she said.

Obama brushes aside the notion that his rhetoric⁴ is insubstantial.  He says he would inspire people to come together to solve problems.

"The most important thing we can do right now is re-engage the American people in the process of governance, to get them excited and interested again in what works and what can work in our government," he said.

On the Republican side, Arizona Senator John McCain has a clear lead nationwide and no one expects his chief rival, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, to win the nomination⁸, no matter how well he does in Wisconsin.  But Huckabee has refused to quit, arguing that voters have a right to make a choice based on their own beliefs and principles, not on what party leaders say.

"What we need to do is make sure that the people of Wisconsin recognize that they are going out and voting their own conscience, not doing what maybe someone in Washington tells them to do and not doing what the establishment tells them," he said.  "This vote is about the future of the Republican Party."

Huckabee says he represents conservatives who care about such issues as abortion⁹, illegal immigration, and reduced taxes. 

McCain has broad appeal, which could prove important in November's general election in a state such as Wisconsin, which has been a battleground in past elections.  But many conservatives in his party object to more liberal positions he has taken on such issues as taxes and immigration.

Also in the Republican race is Texas Congressman¹⁰ Ron Paul, who has had to reduce his presidential campaigning in recent days in order to concentrate on defending his congressional seat back home.  He now has a strong rival for the Republican congressional nomination and has cut back his national campaign schedule.

1 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

2 plagiarism   

n.剽窃，抄袭

参考例句：

• Teachers in America fight to control cheating and plagiarism.美国老师们努力对付欺骗和剽窃的问题。
• Now he's in real trouble.He's accused of plagiarism.现在他是真遇到麻烦了。他被指控剽窃。

3 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

4 rhetoric   

n.修辞学，浮夸之言语

参考例句：

• Do you know something about rhetoric?你懂点修辞学吗？
• Behind all the rhetoric,his relations with the army are dangerously poised.在冠冕堂皇的言辞背后，他和军队的关系岌岌可危。

5 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

6 oratory   

n.演讲术；词藻华丽的言辞

参考例句：

• I admire the oratory of some politicians.我佩服某些政治家的辩才。
• He dazzled the crowd with his oratory.他的雄辩口才使听众赞叹不已。

7 afflict   

vt.使身体或精神受痛苦，折磨

参考例句：

• I wish you wouldn't afflict me with your constant complains.我希望你不要总是抱怨而使我苦恼。
• There are many illnesses,which afflict old people.有许多疾病困扰着老年人。

8 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。

9 abortion   

n.流产，堕胎

参考例句：

• She had an abortion at the women's health clinic.她在妇女保健医院做了流产手术。
• A number of considerations have led her to have a wilful abortion.多种考虑使她执意堕胎。

10 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。