VOA常速英语2008年-Potomac Primary Next Big Battle for Democrats

By Jim Fry
Alexandria, VA
11 February 2008
 

Democrats¹ in Washington, DC and the adjacent states of Virginia and Maryland will go to the polls Tuesday to choose between the two remaining candidates seeking the party's presidential nomination². The contest is being called the Potomac Primary, named after the famous river that flows past the nation's capital and bisects the two states. VOA's Jim Fry looks at the scramble³ for votes among Democrats who say they are conflicted over two good choices for their party's presidential nomination.

Just across the Potomac River from the nation's capital, the state of Virginia is now a primary election battleground. Democrats will send 103 delegates to the political party's national convention.

Senator Hillary Clinton, hoping to further her chances for the nomination, launched another frenetic week of primary election campaigning here. She wants be the first woman elected to the White House, and is battling for every vote with Senator Barack Obama, who could be the first black president.

Obama has been boosted by heavy support among African Americans in other southern states.  But there are fewer blacks in Virginia.

The Latino vote has been largely with Clinton in many recent contests.  This Hispanic Virginian is one example. "Many people, many people -- my friends and my family -- thinking Hillary is perfect for president," Gladys Ramirez told us. But Hispanics make up a tiny percent of the vote.

The upscale communities in the Virginia suburbs close to Washington, with money to spend and chock full of Democrats, offer a big opportunity to the campaigns. It is here where Clinton supporters lined up Thursday for a chance to see her.

Among those watching the former first lady: women who glow with the pride they say they have in the opportunity Clinton represents for women and their daughters.

Not far away, women come to a breakfast the next day in a wealthy suburban⁴ enclave. But these women, many of them middle aged⁵ or older, are not for Clinton.

"I wanted to feel really good about a woman running for the presidency⁶ of the United States," says Robin⁷ Latham. She complains Clinton's rise was fueled by her husband, former President Bill Clinton. "To me, Hillary Clinton isn't advancing feminism or women’s' rights,” she adds. “She's kind of, like, setting it back." 

Obama backers here are trying to persuade undecided voters like Sandy Treanor, who says she is torn by the choice she and others must make Tuesday. "Having a woman is important to me but then I think that Obama can make America liked in the world again -- bring us more together," says Treanor.

It is a hard decision for many Democratic voters in these neighborhoods, like Linda Hardy⁹, home this day with her three-year-old daughter.  But she has decided⁸. "We like the fact that he's bringing people together.  He's very enthusiastic about getting both parties to work together.

Many supporters of Obama and Clinton say, after a nominee¹⁰ is decided in the primaries, they will back whoever wins the Democratic nomination.

1 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》

2 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。

3 scramble   

v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料

参考例句：

• He broke his leg in his scramble down the wall.他爬墙摔断了腿。
• It was a long scramble to the top of the hill.到山顶须要爬登一段长路。

4 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

5 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

6 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。

7 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。

8 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

9 hardy   

adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的

参考例句：

• The kind of plant is a hardy annual.这种植物是耐寒的一年生植物。
• He is a hardy person.他是一个能吃苦耐劳的人。

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。