VOA常速英语2008年-Pennsylvania Votes in Crucial Democratic Presid

By Paula Wolfson
Pittsburgh
22 April 2008

Voters in the state of Pennsylvania are going to the polls to show their preference for who should win the Democratic Party's presidential nomination².  VOA's Paula Wolfson reports from Pittsburgh that there is much at stake in this late-in-the-season primary election.

After six weeks of intense and sometimes nasty campaigning, the voters of Pennsylvania are finally getting their say.

They are expected to turn out in large numbers in a contest that could determine the fate of Hillary Clinton's campaign for the presidency³.

Far into the selection process, she trails Barack Obama in the number of delegates committed to endorse⁴ her candidacy at the party convention in August.

Clinton desperately⁵ needs a big win.  And on election eve she was still traveling back and forth⁶ across the state, rallying her supporters and trying to win over the few remaining undecided voters in Pennsylvania.

"Some people say that America's best days are behind us.  Some people say yes we can, but that does not mean we will," Clinton said.  "I believe we will, if we have the right leadership.  If you stand with me, I will go to the White House and fight for you every single day."

Earlier in the year, Clinton had a strong double digit⁷ lead in Pennsylvania.  Obama has been able to significantly narrow the gap by focusing on his message of change and labeling Clinton as part of the status quo.

"We share a lot of policy positions," Obama said. "But the reason I am running is I believe I am more committed to bringing about the changes that are necessary than Senator Clinton is."

Obama supporters say a poorer than expected performance by Hillary Clinton should be enough to convince her to drop out of the race.    But Clinton backers say they expect the contest will go on.

Dan Onorato is the top official in Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh.  Onorato, a Democrat¹, believes all remaining primary election states will get a chance to vote before the nominee⁸ is chosen.

"Neither candidate is even close to claiming the nomination," he said. "There are still several primaries left and I think those voters should be heard.  And unless the votes in the primaries produce a clear winner, these candidates have every right to stay in until the end."

Local Republican officials in Pennsylvania leave no doubt they are delighted to see a protracted⁹ fight for the Democratic nomination.   Jim Roddey chairs the Allegheny County Republican Party.

"I think that all the McCain [John McCain is the presumptive Republican party nominee] people are doing right now, they are taking notes," he said. "Both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are doing all our opposition¹⁰ research for us, so we are making notes and we will be ready."

 But political commentator¹¹ and Duquesne University professor Joe Sabino Mistick points to the huge crowds Senator Obama has drawn¹² in Pennsylvania, saying he is even outdrawing the local baseball teams in this sports-crazed state.  He says Democrats¹³ are energized¹⁴.

"The Pittsburgh Pirates do not draw 35,000 people when they are on a winning streak¹⁵.  So that is just some indication of the level of excitement," he noted¹⁶.

Senator Obama has already conceded in media interviews that Hillary Clinton is likely to win in Pennsylvania.  She will spend election night with supporters in Philadelphia.  Obama will await the election returns in Indiana which, along with North Carolina, votes in the next round of primaries on May 6.

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 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。

4 endorse   

vt.(支票、汇票等)背书，背署；批注；同意

参考例句：

• No one is foolish enough to endorse it.没有哪个人会傻得赞成它。
• I fully endorse your opinions on this subject.我完全拥护你对此课题的主张。

5 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

6 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。

7 digit   

n.零到九的阿拉伯数字，手指，脚趾

参考例句：

• Her telephone number differs from mine by one digit.她的电话号码和我的只差一个数字。
• Many animals have five digits.许多动物有5趾。

8 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。

9 protracted   

adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The war was protracted for four years. 战争拖延了四年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We won victory through protracted struggle. 经过长期的斗争，我们取得了胜利。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

11 commentator   

n.注释者，解说者；实况广播评论员

参考例句：

• He is a good commentator because he can get across the game.他能简单地解说这场比赛，是个好的解说者。
• The commentator made a big mistake during the live broadcast.在直播节目中评论员犯了个大错误。

12 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

13 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》

14 energized   

v.给予…精力，能量( energize的过去式和过去分词 )；使通电

参考例句：

• We are energized by love if we put our energy into loving. 如果我们付出能量去表现爱意，爱就会使我们充满活力。 来自辞典例句
• I am completely energized and feeling terrific. 我充满了活力，感觉非常好。 来自辞典例句

15 streak   

n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动

参考例句：

• The Indians used to streak their faces with paint.印第安人过去常用颜料在脸上涂条纹。
• Why did you streak the tree?你为什么在树上刻条纹？

16 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。