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　　The third and final American presidential debate produced heated discussion of the slumping¹ U.S. economy and some testy² exchanges about the conduct of the candidates' two campaigns.
第三次也是最后一次美国总统候选人辩论会星期三晚上举行。两位侯选人围绕下滑的美国经济进行了激烈的交锋，双方还就对方的竞选方式相互指责。
In their last joint³ appearance before the November 4 election, senators McCain and Obama clashed on how best to revive the U.S. economy and spare Americans from pain and dislocation stemming from the continuing financial crisis.
这是11月4号美国总统大选日前两位总统候选人最后一次同台亮相。麦凯恩和奥巴马两位参议员在如何能够最好地恢复美国经济，如何化解美国持续的金融危机给美国民众造成的痛楚和烦扰的话题上进行了交锋。
McCain took a strong stand against any new federal taxes and said Obama's plan to raise taxes for high-income earners would harm small businesses and ordinary Americans.
麦凯恩强烈反对提高联邦税，并说奥巴马增加高收入人群税收的计划将损害小型企业和普通美国人。
"Why would you want to increase anybody's taxes right now? Why would you want to do that [to] anyone, anyone in America, when we have such a tough time, when these small business people, like Joe the plumber⁴, are going to create jobs, unless you take that money from him and spread the wealth around,” said John McCain.
他说：“为什么你现在要提高税收，为什么你要对纳税人这样做？不管是什么样的美国人，眼下都处在非常艰难的时期。小生意人，比如普通管道工，能够创造就业机会。你这样做无非是要从他那里把钱拿来让大家分享。”
Obama stressed he wants to cut taxes for middle-income Americans and said McCain represents a continuation of President Bush's economic policies.
奥巴马强调他是为美国中产阶级减税，并说麦凯恩代表的是布什政府经济政策的延续。
"On the core economic issues that matter to the American people - on tax policy, on energy, on spending priorities - you have been a vigorous supporter of President Bush,” said Barack Obama. “Essentially what you are proposing is eight more years of the same thing, and it hasn't worked, and I think the American people understand it hasn't worked and we need to move in a new direction."
他说：“在和美国人民息息相关的关键的经济议题上，不论是税收、能源、政府支出的轻重缓急等问题上，你都是布什总统积极的支持者。本质上你所提倡的是再实行八年同样的政策，这种行不通的政策，我认为美国民众了解那一套行不通，我们需要转向一个新方向。”
Unlike previous debate encounters where McCain and Obama spoke⁵ from podiums or took turns standing⁶ in front of a town hall audience, this debate had the two men seated close to each other at a single table. The proximity⁷ was intended to foster direct, spontaneous exchanges between the candidates, and to make it harder for either to give a series of pre-rehearsed mini-speeches.
和前两次辩论不同，麦凯恩和奥巴马不是各自站在讲台上或者在市政厅里满满的听众前轮流发言，这次辩论，两人坐在同一张桌子旁边，彼此很近，这样的安排是有意促成辩论双方直接和自发的交锋，以及难以让任何一方发表一连串事先准备好的短篇演讲。
The formula seemed to have worked.
这个安排似乎产生了效果。
McCain, who repeatedly went on the offensive to challenge Obama's positions and statements, pressed his rival on his connection to a 1960's radical⁸, William Ayers. He also mentioned Obama's ties to a civic⁹ organization, Acorn¹⁰, that has been accused of voter registration¹¹ fraud.
麦凯恩多次直接挑战了奥巴马的立场和说法，迫使对手解释1960年代他和一个激进分子威廉姆斯·艾尔斯的关系。他还提到奥巴马和公民组织“现在就进行社区改革组织协会”的关连，这个组织受到了在选民登记中作弊的指控。
"Mr. Ayers - I do not care about an old, washed-up terrorist, but as Senator [Hillary] Clinton said in her debates with you, we need to know the full extent of that relationship,” he said. “We need to know the full extent of Senator Obama's relationship with Acorn, which is now on the verge¹² of maybe perpetrating the greatest fraud in voter history."
他说：“艾尔斯先生这个过时的、彻底失败的恐怖主义份子不是我要关注的，但是克林顿参议员在和你辩论时所提到了这个问题， 我们需要全面了解这种关系程度，我们需要全面了解奥巴马参议员和‘现在就进行社区改革组织协会’的关系，这个组织可能已经到了选举史上犯有最严重舞弊行为的边缘。”
Obama, who seemed determined¹³ to project calm and an even temper, took the opportunity to speak on the Ayers matter, which has been the focus of much media attention in recent days.
奥巴马看上去似乎决意保持冷静与平和的语气，利用这个机会解释了艾尔斯的问题，这个问题是近日众多媒体关注的焦点。
"Forty years ago, when I was eight years old, he [Ayers] engaged in despicable acts with a radical domestic group,” he said. “I have roundly condemned¹⁴ those acts. Ten years ago, he served and I served on a school reform board that was funded by one of Ronald Reagan's former ambassadors and close friends. Mr. Ayers is not involved in my campaign."
他说：“四十年前，我还在8岁的时候，艾尔斯就跟一个激进的国内组织参与了卑鄙的行动。我曾强烈地谴责了这种行为。十年前，他和我都参加了一个学校的改革理事会，这个理事会是由前总统里根的一位大使和密友的基金资助的。艾尔斯没有参与我的任何竞选活动。”
The wide-ranging debate also explored health care reform, trade policy, the negative tone of political advertising¹⁵, judicial¹⁶ nominations¹⁷, abortion¹⁸ and education.
这次议题广泛的辩论还涉及到医疗保健的改革，贸易政策，政治广告的负面基调，司法人士提名，堕胎以及教育等问题。
During the debate, both campaigns issued statements rebutting¹⁹ their opponent's arguments. Both campaigns claimed victory moments after the event ended. Post-debate polls will explore the American public's verdict on the debate, in coming days.
在辩论中，双方竞选团队都发表声明中指责对手的论点。辩论结束后，双方都声称取得胜利。而几天以后的民调结果将显示美国公众对辩论会的看法。