VOA常速英语2008年-Economy, Security Take Spotlight in US Presiden

By Jim Malone
Washington
29 February 2008

Tuesday's primaries in the delegate-rich states of Texas and Ohio could be decisive in the race for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination² between Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.  One of those two will face Senator John McCain, the presumed Republican Party nominee³, in the general election.  The outlines of that campaign are already starting to take shape, as we hear from VOA National correspondent Jim Malone.

The main issues in the campaign have been clear for sometime, the state of the national economy, the war in Iraq and national security.

But each of the main candidates will try to shape the debate in ways favorable to them.

For Democrat¹ Barack Obama, that means making change a central theme of the campaign.

"At a time like this, the American people need real change," he said.  "The kind of change that is more than about just switching parties in the White House.  We need a change in our politics, somebody who can help close the divisions in Washington so we can stop just talking about these challenges and actually start solving them."

Obama's rival, Hillary Clinton, has emphasized her experience in the Democratic race, and would do so again in a general election match-up with Republican John McCain.

"Whoever sits at that desk in the Oval office on January 20, 2009, needs all the tools available, all the resources at our disposal, and the wisdom to know how to use them," she said.  "I propose a new strategy to restore our moral authority, end the war in Iraq and defend and protect our nation."

McCain has argued that he has more experience than either Democrat, especially on national security.  His status as a war hero and the only one of the three contenders to have served in the military could prove to be an asset in the general election campaign.

"My campaign will be based on a vision of fixing the problems and challenges that face America's economy and education," he added.  "I will be very glad to stand on my record of support for not surrendering in Iraq, and my knowledge and background on national security that I can keep this nation safe."

Public opinion polls suggest a close election in November no matter which Democrat winds up facing McCain.

But McCain could face some powerful political headwinds that experts say could give the Democratic candidate an advantage.

Norman Ornstein is a political analyst⁴ at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington.

"The context of this election, in significant part, is a very unhappy country," he explained.  "A country that believes the wheels are coming off in a lot of different places.  They are unhappy about the economy and the war, which includes an acknowledgment that things have gotten better, but still a belief that we never should have been there in the first place."

McCain could also be running against history.  Americans have a tendency to want a change in direction after one party has held the White House for two or more consecutive⁵ terms.

The Democratic candidate, whether it is Obama or Clinton, is likely to focus on the need for change after eight years of Republican President George Bush.

Experts say McCain's best argument might be that his age and experience would be an asset in a dangerous, unpredictable world.

Stuart Rothenberg publishes a political newsletter in Washington.

"The election in part is going to be about change and leadership," he said.  "It is going to be about experience.  People may not think about those as issues in the traditional sense, but they certainly are, because when you elect a president, you are electing a person to run the country, really.  And individual public policy matters are important, but leadership and strength and experience and change tend to be even more important issues."

History has shown that trying to predict now what will be the decisive factors in the campaign months down the road can be foolhardy.

As analyst Norman Ornstein says, there is always the unexpected.

"Let us face it, in an environment that is not a particularly good one for Republicans, if there is a terrorist attack or a hint of a terrorist attack, if the agenda shifts to the basic theme that the barbarians⁶ are at the gate and who do you want in the house protecting the family, that is not a very good comparative ground for Barack Obama," he noted⁷.  "It is slightly better one for Hillary Clinton were she to win the nomination."

The Democrats⁸ will formally nominate their candidate at their national convention in Denver in late August, while the Republicans will do the same in Minneapolis-St. Paul in early September.

The presidential election will be held November 4.

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 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 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。

4 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

5 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

6 barbarians   

n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 )；外国人；粗野的人；无教养的人

参考例句：

• The ancient city of Rome fell under the iron hooves of the barbarians. 古罗马城在蛮族的铁蹄下沦陷了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It conquered its conquerors, the barbarians. 它战胜了征服者——蛮族。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史

7 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。

8 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》