VOA常速英语2007-Some Democrats Urge Gore to Run for US President

By Jim Malone
Washington
11 October 2007

As Republicans search for a frontrunner in the 2008 presidential race, Democrats² already have one in Senator Hillary Clinton of New York. But that has not stopped a group of Democratic activists³ from making one last push for former Vice⁴ President Al Gore⁵ to join the race for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination⁶. VOA National Correspondent Jim Malone has more from Washington.

Clinton is the clear favorite for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination. She holds a sizable lead in national polls over her two closest rivals, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois and former Senator John Edwards of North Carolina.

But at least one group of Democratic political activists has not given up on the hope that Al Gore might yet be persuaded to enter the 2008 race for the White House.

"2008 could be our second and last chance to make things right again. Join us at DraftGore.com. Sign the petition at DraftGore.com. Paid for by DraftGore. He won once, he can win again." That radio ad is running in the state of Florida. George Bush's narrow victory over Gore in Florida in the 2000 election sent Mr. Bush to the White House and Gore into political retirement⁷.

The draft Gore movement also took out a full page ad in the New York Times urging the former vice president to run, arguing that Gore is the candidate who can bring hope to America and the world.

Gore continues to resist the appeal even as he ever so slightly leaves the door open to the possibility of running at some point in the future.

"Well, you know, I am not pondering it. I am not focused on that.I am focused on how to solve the climate crisis," Gore said in an interview with ABC News earlier this year.

Despite the pressure on Gore, most Democrats seem to believe that Hillary Clinton is still the favorite to capture the party nomination next year.

The situation in the Republican Party appears to be far more uncertain.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani continues to lead the Republican field in national polls, but his margin⁸ has narrowed in recent months.

In the latest Republican candidate's debate, Giuliani engaged in a spirited exchange over who was the better tax cutter with one of his rivals, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt⁹ Romney.

"Under him, taxes went up 11 percent per capita. I led. He lagged," Giuliani said.

"That is baloney. Mayor, you have got to check your facts. I did not increase taxes in Massachusetts. I lowered taxes," Romney replied.

Some social conservative activists have raised the possibility that they might support a third party candidate if Giuliani becomes the Republican nominee¹⁰.

Giuliani supports abortion¹¹ rights, which many Christian¹² conservatives oppose.

"If the party were to signal retreat from its defense¹³ of the unborn by nominating a pro-abortion rights candidate, then we would stand our ground and support a pro-life third party candidate. But we see that as way down the road," said Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, who was interviewed on MSNBC television.

The latest Republican debate also marked the debut¹⁴ of the newest candidate to enter the race, former Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee.

Thompson brushed aside criticism from some Republicans that he made a mistake by delaying his entry into the race. "No, I do not think I waited too long. Kind of seems about right to me," he said.

Thompson has also faced criticism that he has been uninspiring as a candidate, though the reviews of his debate performance were generally positive.

Thompson runs second in most national polls to Giuliani, followed by Arizona Senator John McCain, Romney and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

The polls also show that Democrat¹ Hillary Clinton would be the favorite against any of the possible Republican nominees¹⁵ next year.

But University of Virginia expert Larry Sabato cautions that polls this early in the race can be misleading. "But anybody who thinks that this is a cut and dried election needs to study American history because elections are almost never cut and dried. Open races when you have no incumbent¹⁶ are especially competitive," he said.

The campaign formally begins in January when the traditional early contest states of Iowa and New Hampshire kick off the party nominee selection process through a series of caucuses¹⁷ and primaries.

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 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》

3 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》

4 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。

5 gore   

n.凝血，血污；v.（动物）用角撞伤，用牙刺破；缝以补裆；顶

参考例句：

• The fox lay dying in a pool of gore.狐狸倒在血泊中奄奄一息。
• Carruthers had been gored by a rhinoceros.卡拉瑟斯被犀牛顶伤了。

6 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。

7 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

8 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。

9 mitt   

n.棒球手套，拳击手套，无指手套；vt.铐住，握手

参考例句：

• I gave him a baseball mitt for his birthday.为祝贺他的生日，我送给他一只棒球手套。
• Tom squeezed a mitt and a glove into the bag.汤姆把棒球手套和手套都塞进袋子里。

10 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。

11 abortion   

n.流产，堕胎

参考例句：

• She had an abortion at the women's health clinic.她在妇女保健医院做了流产手术。
• A number of considerations have led her to have a wilful abortion.多种考虑使她执意堕胎。

12 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

13 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

14 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

15 nominees   

n.被提名者，被任命者( nominee的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• She's one of the nominees. 她是被提名者之一。 来自超越目标英语 第2册
• A startling number of his nominees for senior positions have imploded. 他所提名的高级官员被否决的数目令人震惊。 来自互联网

16 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

17 caucuses   

n.（政党决定政策或推举竞选人的）核心成员( caucus的名词复数 )；决策干部；决策委员会；秘密会议

参考例句：

• Republican caucuses will happen in about 410 towns across Maine. 共和党团会议选举将在缅因州的约410个城镇进行。 来自互联网