VOA标准英语2010年-Activists Stirring Up Races in US Prim

Poll worker Melanie Withey attaches "I voted" stickers to a box at a polling station during elections in San Diego California, 8 Jun 2010

Voters are going to the polls in 12 U.S. states to choose candidates in party primary elections.  Activists¹ in both major political parties - the Democratic and the Republican Parties - have opened up many races, and political analysts³ say some upsets are likely.

In the south central state of Arkansas, two-term U.S. senator Blanche Lincoln faces a tough runoff against Bill Halter, the state's lieutenant⁴ governor.  They are seeking the Democratic Party nomination⁵ for the November election, and were forced into a runoff when neither received more than 50 percent of the vote in a primary vote last month. 

Lincoln has endorsements⁷ from President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton.  But labor⁸ unions have spent millions of dollars to unseat her.  They are angry over Lincoln's support of Republican-backed tax cuts and endorsement⁶ of positions that they consider to be anti-union. 

Challenger Halter says the two candidates disagree on many issues.

"There are just very profound differences between Senator Lincoln and myself," said Halter.

The winning candidate will face another tough election against Republican candidate John Boozman in the November general election.  Public opinion surveys show Boozman leading in a potential match-up against either Democrat².

Nevada's Republican governor, Jim Gibbons, has trailed badly in public opinion polls and could lose the nomination to Republican challenger Brian Sandoval.  If he does, it would be the first time in the western state's history that a sitting governor lost his seat in a primary election.

The Tea Party movement of libertarians and conservatives, who promote lower taxes and smaller government, has opened many races.

In Nevada, Republicans are battling for the chance to unseat U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry⁹ Reid.  Tea Party favorite, Republican Sharron Angle has been leading in opinion polls against former state Republican chairwoman Sue Lowden and Las Vegas businessman Danny Tarkanian. 

Angle says she will phase out programs like the social security pension system.  And she wants the United States to withdraw from the United Nations.  Some Democrats¹⁰ hope she will win, saying that Angle poses less of a threat to Harry Reid in November.

California has high-profile races for governor and the U.S. senate.  Republican billionaire Meg Whitman, who once headed the Internet company eBay, has spent more than $70 million of her own money in the race for governor, battling the state's insurance commissioner¹¹, Steve Poizner.  The winner will face Democrat Jerry Brown, the state attorney general and former governor, in the November election. 

California's current governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, cannot run again because of term limits.

Carly Fiorina, the former chief executive of computer giant Hewlett-Packard, is seeking the Republican nomination in the race against Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer¹².  Fiorina, who has positioned herself as a conservative, faces a former U.S. representative, moderate Tom Campbell, and conservative Chuck DeVore in a Republican contest that has highlighted conservative issues.  The winner will face a tough challenge in the general election against long-time liberal Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer.

Allegations of marital¹³ infidelity have livened up the governor's race in South Carolina, where a field of Republicans and Democrats is vying¹⁴ to replace Republican Governor Mark Sanford.  Sanford's widely publicized extra-marital affair with a woman in Argentina had already added spice to state politics.  Sanford has served eight years as governor and cannot run again because of term limits.

Republican Nikki Haley says she hopes to become the state's first woman governor.  Two men, including Larry Marchant, a former consultant¹⁵ to rival candidate, Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer, claim they have had extra-marital affairs with Haley. 

"We had sexual relations.  We had sex," said Marchant.

Andre Bauer, who is accused of spreading the rumor¹⁶, took a polygraph test to prove he did not.   Haley denies any infidelity and says this is just politics.  Her popularity surged after former Alaska governor and vice¹⁷ presidential candidate Sarah Palin endorsed¹⁸ her.

 

1 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》

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 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。

4 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

5 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。

6 endorsement   

n.背书；赞成，认可，担保；签(注)，批注

参考例句：

• We are happy to give the product our full endorsement.我们很高兴给予该产品完全的认可。
• His presidential campaign won endorsement from several celebrities.他参加总统竞选得到一些社会名流的支持。

7 endorsements   

n.背书( endorsement的名词复数 )；（驾驶执照上的）违章记录；（公开的）赞同；（通常为名人在广告中对某一产品的）宣传

参考例句：

• He must make much money on those tennis shoe endorsements he does. 他替那些网球鞋珍重广告，就赚了不少钱。 来自互联网
• But celebrity endorsements remain an important promotional tool for marketers. 尽管如此，邀明星助阵仍是营销人员重要的推广手段之一。 来自互联网

8 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

9 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

10 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》

11 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

12 boxer   

n.制箱者，拳击手

参考例句：

• The boxer gave his opponent a punch on the nose.这个拳击手朝他对手的鼻子上猛击一拳。
• He moved lightly on his toes like a boxer.他像拳击手一样踮着脚轻盈移动。

13 marital   

adj.婚姻的，夫妻的

参考例句：

• Her son had no marital problems.她的儿子没有婚姻问题。
• I regret getting involved with my daughter's marital problems;all its done is to bring trouble about my ears.我后悔干涉我女儿的婚姻问题, 现在我所做的一切将给我带来无穷的烦恼。

14 vying   

adj.竞争的；比赛的

参考例句：

• California is vying with other states to capture a piece of the growing communications market.为了在日渐扩大的通讯市场分得一杯羹，加利福尼亚正在和其他州展开竞争。
• Four rescue plans are vying to save the zoo.4个拯救动物园的方案正争得不可开交。

15 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。

16 rumor   

n.谣言，谣传，传说

参考例句：

• The rumor has been traced back to a bad man.那谣言经追查是个坏人造的。
• The rumor has taken air.谣言流传开了。

17 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。

18 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》