VOA标准英语10月-Candidates Focus on Economy, Key States in Final

The U.S. presidential election campaign is moving into its final week, and both major candidates are making their closing arguments to voters before the November 4 election. VOA national correspondent Jim Malone has the latest on the campaign from Washington.
　

Senator Barack Obama in Canton, Ohio, 27 Oct 2008

Democrat¹ Barack Obama continues to lead in the national polls and in most of the key states that will hold the balance in next week's election.

But Obama cautioned a crowd in Ohio not to take the election for granted, and to get out and work hard in the closing days of the campaign.

"Do not believe for a second that this election is over," he said. "Do not think for a minute that power concedes. We have a lot of work to do. We have to work like our future depends on it in this last week, because it does depend on it this week!"

Obama is focused on a message of change and unity² in the final days of the campaign. He says if elected he would unify³ the country, including Democrats⁴ and Republicans, to take on the economic challenges at home and the security challenges abroad.

But Obama is not backing away from his central contention⁵ that his Republican opponent, Senator John McCain, represents a continuation of what he calls the failed policies of President Bush.

"John McCain might be worried about losing an election, but I am worried about Americans who are losing their homes and their jobs and their life savings," said Obama. "I can take one more week of John McCain's attacks, but this country cannot take four more years of the same failed politics and the same failed policies. It is time to try something new!"
　

Senator John McCain in Dayton, Ohio, 27 Oct 2008

Senator McCain also campaigned in Ohio, and he focused on the economy, which the polls show is the number-one issue in the election.

"With one week left in this campaign, the choice facing Americans is stark," McCain said. "My economic goals and policies are very clear."

McCain again distanced himself from the economic policies of President Bush, and noted⁶ that Americans want change.

McCain also continued his attacks on Obama's tax proposals, which some of his supporters compare to socialism.

"And that is the problem with Senator Obama's approach to our economy," said McCain. "He is more interested in controlling wealth than creating it, in redistributing money instead of spreading opportunity. I am going to create wealth for all Americans by creating opportunity for all Americans!"

Many political experts believe McCain is running out of time to close the gap in the polls in the final days of the campaign.

"What is driving this election is dissatisfaction with the party now holding the White House," said Allan Lichtman, a presidential historian at American University in Washington. "Nearly 90 percent of Americans think the country is on the wrong track. The economy is in meltdown. George Bush is the most unpopular president in the history of polling, which goes back to the 1930's."

The fact that both major presidential contenders were in Ohio on the same day this late in the campaign reflects the state's influential⁷ status in presidential elections. No Republican has ever won the White House without carrying Ohio. And John Kennedy in 1960 was the last Democratic candidate to win the presidency⁸ without carrying Ohio. Obama has a narrow lead over McCain in the latest polls in Ohio.

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 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

3 unify   

vt.使联合，统一；使相同，使一致

参考例句：

• How can we unify such scattered islands into a nation?我们怎么才能把如此分散的岛屿统一成一个国家呢？
• It is difficult to imagine how the North and South could ever agree on a formula to unify the divided peninsula.很难想象南北双方在统一半岛的方案上究竟怎样才能达成一致。

4 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》

5 contention   

n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张

参考例句：

• The pay increase is the key point of contention. 加薪是争论的焦点。
• The real bone of contention,as you know,is money.你知道，争论的真正焦点是钱的问题。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

8 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。