VOA标准英语2008年-Obama Wins North Carolina Primary, Clinton Take

By Jim Malone
Washington
07 May 2008

In the U.S. presidential race, Democrat¹ Barack Obama won a convincing victory Tuesday in the North Carolina primary. Rival Hillary Clinton claimed victory in a close race in Indiana. VOA National correspondent Jim Malone reports from Washington.

Senator Obama regained² his political footing with his win in North Carolina and a strong showing in Indiana, and took a major step toward securing the Democratic Party's presidential nomination³.

Obama increased his lead in the delegate count and told jubilant supporters in North Carolina that his win was a victory against the politics of division and destruction.

"Because you still believe that this is our moment and our time to change America, tonight we stand less than 200 delegates away from securing the Democratic nomination for president of the United States," he said.

In his remarks, Senator Obama also turned his attention away from Senator Clinton and focused on the presumptive Republican nominee⁴, Senator John McCain.

"Yes, there have been bruised⁵ feelings on both sides. Yes, each side desperately⁶ wants their candidate to win. But ultimately, this race is not about Hillary Clinton, it is not about Barack Obama, it is not about John McCain. This election is about you, the American people. It is about whether we will have a president and a party that will lead us toward a brighter future. We cannot afford to give John McCain a chance to serve out George Bush's third term, we need change in America, and that is why we will be united in November," he said.

But Senator Clinton showed no signs of giving up when she spoke⁷ to her supporters in Indiana.

"Not too long ago, my opponent made a prediction. He said I would probably win Pennsylvania. He would win North Carolina and Indiana would be the tiebreaker. Well, tonight, we have come from behind. We have broken the tie, and thanks to you, it is full speed onto the White House," she said.

Clinton pledged to support Obama if he becomes the Democratic nominee. But she also vowed⁸ to continue her campaign in upcoming primaries in West Virginia and Kentucky, where she is favored.

"No matter what happens, I will work for the nominee of the Democratic Party because we must win in November. I am going to work my heart out in West Virginia and Kentucky this month, and I intend to win them in November in the general election," she said.

Voter surveys showed Obama won the support of about 90 percent of African Americans, while Clinton won about two-thirds of white working class voters. Half the voters in both states said the recent controversy⁹ involving Obama's former pastor¹⁰, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, was a factor in their decision.

Obama's strong showing in North Carolina and Indiana could also win over more support from uncommitted so-called superdelegates. Superdelegates are Democratic officeholders and party activists¹¹ who will likely provide the margin¹² of victory for the candidate who eventually secures the nomination.

Six Democratic contests remain before the primary season ends on June 3. Political experts give Senator Clinton little chance of overtaking Obama in either the delegate count or the popular vote count by the end of the primary season.

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 regained   

复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地

参考例句：

• The majority of the people in the world have regained their liberty. 世界上大多数人已重获自由。
• She hesitated briefly but quickly regained her poise. 她犹豫片刻，但很快恢复了镇静。

3 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。

4 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

5 bruised   

[医]青肿的，瘀紫的

参考例句：

• his bruised and bloodied nose 他沾满血的青肿的鼻子
• She had slipped and badly bruised her face. 她滑了一跤，摔得鼻青脸肿。

6 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

7 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

8 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

9 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

10 pastor   

n.牧师，牧人

参考例句：

• He was the son of a poor pastor.他是一个穷牧师的儿子。
• We have no pastor at present:the church is run by five deacons.我们目前没有牧师：教会的事是由五位执事管理的。

11 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 margin   

n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘

参考例句：

• We allowed a margin of 20 minutes in catching the train.我们有20分钟的余地赶火车。
• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。