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　　Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell says he is backing Democrat¹ Barack Obama for president. Powell made the announcement during a nationally broadcast television interview.
美国前国务卿鲍威尔说，他支持民主党总统候选人奥巴马。鲍威尔是在接受向全国转播的电视采访中说这番话的。
Powell says Barack Obama has the ability to transform America and American politics.
鲍威尔说，奥巴马有能力改变美国和美国政治。
"He has met the standard of being a successful president, being an exceptional president. I think he is a transformational figure. He is a new generation coming onto the world stage, onto the American stage. And for that reason, I will be voting for Senator Barack Obama," he said.
他说：“他已经达到了一个成功的总统、一个特殊总统的标准。我认为他是一个变革的人物。他代表步入世界舞台和美国舞台的新一代人。基于这个原因，我将投奥巴马参议员的票。”
It was an important high-profile endorsement² for Obama from a fellow African-American who served first as the nation's top military officer and later as its chief diplomat³.
对奥巴马来说，这是来自一位重要人物的支持。鲍威尔和奥巴马一样都是非洲裔美国人。鲍威尔曾经担任美国最高军事官员，后来又成为美国首席外交官。
Powell, a retired⁴ general, was the secretary of state during President George W. Bush's first term. And while he has never held a prominent political post, he has served in several Republican administrations.
鲍威尔是一位退役的将军。他是布什总统第一任期的国务卿。尽管他从来没有担任过显要的政治职位，但是他在共和党几届政府中担任过要职。
Appearing on NBC's Meet the Press, Powell said both Barack Obama and his opponent, Republican John McCain, could handle the job of commander-in-chief. But he indicated he believes Obama would be better able to tackle the nation's economic problems and improve its standing⁵ abroad.
鲍威尔在接受美国全国广播公司“与媒体见面”节目采访时说，奥巴马和他的竞选对手共和党的麦凯恩二人都能够胜任美国军队总司令的职务，但他表示，他相信奥巴马能够更好地解决国家经济问题，并改善美国在国外的形像。
"I think the number one issue the [new] president is going to have to deal with is the economy - that is what the American people are worried about," added Powell. "And frankly⁶, it is not just an American problem, it is an international problem."
鲍威尔说：“我认为最重要的问题是新总统必须处理经济问题，这是美国人民的担心所在。而且坦率地说，经济问题不仅是美国的问题，它还是一个国际问题。”
Powell said he has been friends with John McCain for many years. But he said he is disappointed in the tone of the McCain campaign, and the choice of Sarah Palin as the Republican vice⁷ presidential nominee⁸.
He was asked if race played a role in his decision to back Senator Obama.
"If I had only that in mind, I could have done this six, eight, 10 months ago. I really have been going back and forth⁹ between somebody I have the highest respect regard for - John McCain - and somebody I was getting to know, Barack Obama," Powell said. "And it was only in the last couple of months that I settled on this."
Senator Obama welcomed the news at a campaign rally in North Carolina - a state where Republicans are traditionally strong.
奥巴马参议员在北卡罗莱纳州的一个竞选集会上对鲍威尔支持他的消息表示欢迎。北卡罗莱纳州是共和党的传统票仓。
"Today, I am beyond humbled¹⁰. I am deeply honored to have the support of General Colin Powell"
奥巴马说：“今天，我感到不胜惭愧。能够得到民众拥戴的鲍威尔将军的支持我深感荣幸。”
Senator McCain downplayed the Powell announcement when asked about it on the Fox News Sunday television program.
麦凯恩在接受福克斯电视台周日新闻电视节目的采访时，对鲍威尔支持奥巴马的消息进行了低调处理。
"I have always admired and respected General Powell. We are long-time friends. This does not come as a surprise. And I am also very pleased to have the endorsement of four former secretaries of state - Secretaries Baker¹¹, Kissinger, Eagleburger and Haig," he said.
他说：“我一直钦佩和尊敬鲍威尔。我们是长期的挚友。他的决定并不出乎我的意外。我也很荣幸地得到四名前国务卿的支持，他们是前国务卿贝克、基辛格、黑格和伊格尔伯格。”
With just over two weeks left until Election Day, nationwide polls put Obama in the lead. But the race is tightening¹², and John McCain says he is still confident of victory.
现在离总统大选投票仅有两个多星期了。在全国的民调中，奥巴马仍然领先。但是，选战正在日趋激烈。参议员麦凯恩说，他仍然有信心获胜。
"I have been on enough campaigns, my friend, to sense enthusiasm and momentum¹³ and we have got it," said McCain.
For his part, Senator Obama is warning his supporters against being overconfident. He is spending his weekend campaigning in states that are usually strong for Republicans - such as North Carolina and Missouri.