VOA常速英语2008年-Democratic Candidates to Debate Before Crucial

By Cindy Saine
Washington
16 April 2008

Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are preparing to face-off in a nationally televised debate Wednesday evening in Pennsylvania, just days ahead of the critical Democratic primary in that state.  As VOA correspondent Cindy Saine reports from Washington, the debate is likely to draw a large audience.

Senator Hillary Clinton is favored to win in Pennsylvania,  and will need the victory to try to create political momentum² for the rest of the primaries into early June. 

"Pennsylvania will determine whether Hillary Clinton can actually finish the primary season," explains political analyst³ Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia.  "If she loses, or even if it is a squeaker, I think she is probably out.  If however, she finishes 53-47, 54-46 or better, she is in. She will be in [the race] through June 3, and Obama will have to deal with that."

Larry Sabato says the pollsters and other experts he knows in Pennsylvania believe Clinton has a lead of between four and seven percentage points ahead of next Tuesday's primary and is likely to win.

"The demographics of the state favor her," Sabato said. "It is an older state, it is a working-class Democrat¹ state.  Plus Governor Ed Rendell and Mayor Michael Nutter⁴ of Philadelphia have really put their own political reputations at stake here by backing her so strongly. They can't afford to have Obama win, it will damage their political futures⁵." 

Senator Obama has been on the defensive⁶ this week over comments he made describing small town voters as  "bitter" over their economic circumstances.  His Democratic rival Senator Clinton and Republican candidate Senator John McCain have both called the remarks "elitist." 

On Tuesday, Senator Obama was campaigning in Pennsylvania when a voter suggested Senator Clinton's "elitist" accusation⁷ may have racial overtones.

"Let me say this.  I don't think there are racial overtones to the attacks going on right now," Obama said. "I think that, you know, it's politics.  This is what we do politically, when we start getting behind in races then we start going on the attack."

Senator Obama is hoping for a close finish in Pennsylvania to maintain his lead in the number of delegates needed to win the nomination⁸, and to protect his frontrunner status going into early May primaries in North Carolina and Indiana.

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 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。

3 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。

4 nutter   

n.疯子

参考例句：

• Don't call him nutter because it is such a bad term.别叫他“疯子”，这不是个好词。
• But it's awfully ruthless and cold-blooded for a nutter from the other side.但是对那边的疯子们来说，却也实在太冷血无情了。

5 futures   

n.期货，期货交易

参考例句：

• He continued his operations in cotton futures.他继续进行棉花期货交易。
• Cotton futures are selling at high prices.棉花期货交易的卖价是很高的。

6 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

7 accusation   

n.控告，指责，谴责

参考例句：

• I was furious at his making such an accusation.我对他的这种责备非常气愤。
• She knew that no one would believe her accusation.她知道没人会相信她的指控。

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。