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　　U.S. President Barack Obama is back in campaign mode - traveling to regions hard-hit by the economic recession to rally support for his massive stimulus¹ plan. His first stop was in a town in American's heartland with one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.
美国总统奥巴马重新使用竞选造势的方式，前往遭受经济衰退严重打击的地区，为他的大规模刺激经济计划争取民众的支持。奥巴马的第一站是美国中部的一个小镇，这里是美国失业率最高的地区之一。
In Elkhart, Indiana the unemployment rate stands at 15 percent, roughly twice the national average. The factories that have long sustained the area are closing, and families are worried about the future.
印第安纳州的埃尔克哈特的失业率高达15%，几乎相当于全美国平均失业率的一倍。多年来一直维持该地区经济的工厂纷纷关闭，当地居民对前途忧心忡忡。
President Obama says Elkhart, and towns like it, provide the full measure of the economic crisis.
奥巴马总统说，像埃尔克哈特这样的城镇，在各方面反映了经济危机的严重程度。
"We are talking about people who have lost their livelihood² and do not know what will take its place," said President Obama. "We are talking about parents who have lost their health care and lie awake at night praying their kids do not get sick. We are talking about families who have lost the home that was the corner, the foundation for their American dream."
“我们这里有失去生计的人们，他们不知道将用什么来替代取得生计的来源。我们这里有丧失健康保险父母亲，他们彻夜不眠，向上帝祷告保佑他们的孩子不要生病。我们这里有失去房屋的家庭。房屋是他们所陷的困境，也是他们美国梦的的基础。”
It was the president's first town hall style event since he took office. He took questions from members of the community and said Washington needs to listen to their concerns.
这是奥巴马入主白宫以来召开的第一个市政会议。他还回答了社区民众提出的一些问题。他说，华盛顿应当倾听他们的忧虑。
Mr. Obama said there has been a good debate in Congress on the stimulus bill, and now it is time to act.
奥巴马说，国会就刺激经济计划进行了充分的辩论，但是现在是采取行动的时候了。
"That is why I am calling on Congress to pass this bill immediately," said Mr. Obama. "Folks here in Elkhart and all across America need help right now, and they cannot afford to keep on waiting for folks in Washington to get this done."
“这就是为什么我呼吁国会立即通过这个议案。在埃尔克哈特和全美各地的乡亲们现在需要帮助，他们无法承受继续等待华盛顿的人们通过这项议案。”
The event in Elkhart gave President Obama an opportunity to move the focus from Washington, to the plight³ of those Americans struggling to deal with the current economic crisis. It put a face on the problem.
在埃尔克哈特的这次市政会议给奥巴马总统提供了一个机会，将人们关注的焦点从华盛顿转移到处境艰难的美国人民身上，他们为了应对目前的经济危机在苦苦地挣扎着。他们的状况使得目前的经济问题具体化。
"President Obama, we welcome you to Elkhart with our whole hearts," said Helen Tastello.
埃尔克哈特的居民海伦. 斯特罗说：“奥巴马总统， 我们由衷地欢迎你来埃尔克哈特。”
Elkhart resident Helen Tastello wanted to know if any of the money in the stimulus package would come directly to her town.
想知道，在刺激经济计划中，是否有任何拨款能给他们的小镇。
The president said steps will be taken to make sure the public is informed every step of the way about where the funds are going and how they are being used.
奥马说，他们将采取行动，确保公众一清二楚地了解资金的去向和用途。
"Look, we have got to get the bill passed, but we also have to make sure the money is well spent, which means we are doing some things that are unprecedented⁴ to make sure the money gets out quickly but it gets out wisely," said President Obama.
“我们必须要使这个议案获得通过，但是我们也必须要确保资金能花到实处。这就意味着，我们在做前人未曾做过的事，确保钱能迅速划拨下来，但是也必须明智地使用这些资金。”
President Obama is expected to make many of the same points late Monday back in Washington when he goes before reporters for his first White House news conference. Then he goes back on the road with town meetings scheduled on Tuesday in Fort Myers, Florida and Thursday in Peoria, Illinois.
奥巴马总统预计将于星期一晚间返回华盛顿，举行第一次白宫记者会，届时他将反复阐述相同的观点。然后，他再次启程，预定星期二在佛罗里达州的迈尔斯堡、星期四在伊利诺伊州的皮奥里亚参加市政会议。