VOA常速英语2008年-Democrats Worry Over Extended Nomination Battle

By Jim Malone
Washington
17 April 2008

The latest presidential debate between Democratic Party presidential contenders Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton appears to have done little to clarify a lengthy¹ and bitter nomination² fight that some Democrats³ fear may be helping⁴ the presumed Republican nominee⁵, Senator John McCain.  VOA National Correspondent Jim Malone has more from Washington.

Candidates Obama and Clinton generally agree on issues like Iraq, health care and improving the U.S. image abroad.

But they sharply disagree on which of them would be the stronger Democratic candidate against Republican John McCain in the November election.

In the latest debate on ABC television, Clinton conceded for the first time that Obama could beat McCain if he becomes the Democratic nominee.

MODERATOR:  "Can he win?"

CLINTON:  "Yes, yes, yes.  Now, I think that I can do a better job, obviously, that is why I am here."

Obama found himself on the defensive⁶ for much of the debate over comments he made about bitter voters in small towns and inflammatory statements made by his former pastor⁷, Reverend Jeremiah Wright.

But Obama said he would be able to overcome what he called the political distractions⁸ and would beat McCain in November if he becomes the Democratic nominee.

"When they see my track record and the work that I have done on behalf of people who really need help, I have absolute confidence that they can rally behind my campaign," he said.

The longer the race drags on, the more Democrats worry that both Obama and Clinton will be politically damaged if they win the nomination and vulnerable to Republican attacks.

"There is great concern among Democratic insiders that the Democratic contest has really resuscitated⁹ Republican prospects¹⁰ for November, that the contest has gone on too long, it has been too personal, it has created a deep division within the party and within party constituencies, and that it has become a real problem," said analyst¹¹ Stuart Rothenberg, who publishes an independent political newsletter in Washington.

Rothenberg also notes that even though Obama has had a difficult few weeks, Clinton has been unable to capitalize in the polls.

"I do not think Senator Clinton has been able to take that much advantage of it, frankly," he added.  "It is more of a general election problem defining Barack Obama as a liberal.  That is a plus in the Democratic race.  The problem is, though, it is not a plus in the general election."

Clinton is favored in Tuesday's Pennsylvania primary, largely because of her advantage with white, working-class voters who have proven resistant¹² to Obama's arguments that he best represents political change.

Quinnipiac University Pollster Peter Brown says Obama's lack of appeal to working class voters could hurt him if he becomes the Democratic nominee.

"The challenge for the Democratic Party once they end their nomination fight, whenever that turns out to be, will be bringing everybody home against McCain in November.  And what this indicates is that Senator Obama might have some problems in bringing home traditional Democratic voters," he explained.

Recent polls suggest that Republican John McCain has cut into the leads of both Obama and Clinton in head to head general election match-ups.

Stuart Rothenberg says at the moment McCain is the real beneficiary of the Obama-Clinton battle for the Democratic nomination.

"McCain is able to position himself as someone who is kind of above politics while they are involved in this back and forth¹³, and he is talking about the economy and he is talking about the war and leadership and the like," he noted¹⁴.  "And he just looks more presidential, so he is benefiting at the moment."

Obama continues to hold a lead in the overall delegate count, and Clinton needs a victory in Pennsylvania to keep alive her hopes of winning the nomination.

After Pennsylvania, the Democrats will compete in primaries in North Carolina and Indiana on May 6.  The primary season ends in early June and the Democrats hold their national nominating convention in late August.

1 lengthy   

adj.漫长的，冗长的

参考例句：

• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
• The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。

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 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》

4 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

5 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。

6 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

7 pastor   

n.牧师，牧人

参考例句：

• He was the son of a poor pastor.他是一个穷牧师的儿子。
• We have no pastor at present:the church is run by five deacons.我们目前没有牧师：教会的事是由五位执事管理的。

8 distractions   

n.使人分心的事[人]( distraction的名词复数 )；娱乐，消遣；心烦意乱；精神错乱

参考例句：

• I find it hard to work at home because there are too many distractions. 我发觉在家里工作很难，因为使人分心的事太多。
• There are too many distractions here to work properly. 这里叫人分心的事太多，使人无法好好工作。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 resuscitated   

v.使（某人或某物）恢复知觉，苏醒( resuscitate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The doctor resuscitated the man who was overcome by gas. 医生救活了那个煤气中毒的人。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• She had been literally rejuvenated, resuscitated, brought back from the lip of the grave. 她确确实实返老还童了，恢复了精力，被从坟墓的进口处拉了回来。 来自辞典例句

10 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

11 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。

12 resistant   

adj.(to)抵抗的，有抵抗力的

参考例句：

• Many pests are resistant to the insecticide.许多害虫对这种杀虫剂有抵抗力。
• They imposed their government by force on the resistant population.他们以武力把自己的统治强加在持反抗态度的人民头上。

13 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

14 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。