VOA标准英语2008年-Obama Wins Big in NC, Clinton Wins Narrowly in

By Cindy Saine
Washington
07 May 2008

Democratic Party frontrunner Senator Barack Obama scored a decisive win in North Carolina's primary election Tuesday, while his rival Senator Hillary Clinton eked¹ out a slim, two-percentage point victory in Indiana. VOA Correspondent Cindy Saine reports from Washington Mrs. Clinton is vowing² to fight on in upcoming primaries.

Senator Barack Obama's strong, 14 percentage point win in North Carolina marks a dramatic victory after he experienced the most difficult weeks of his campaign, including a loss in Pennsylvania last month and an unhelpful media tour by his controversial former pastor³.

At his victory party in Raleigh, North Carolina, Obama thanked his supporters for ignoring what he termed "distractions⁴" and voting for a major change in the tone of politics in Washington.

"You know, there are those who are saying that North Carolina would be a game changer in this election," he said. "But today what North Carolina decided⁵ is that the only game that needs changing is the one in Washington, D.C."

The 46-year-old African American Senator from Illinois is now just about 200 delegates away from clinching⁶ the Democratic Party's nomination⁷. His strong showing in North Carolina, and the very close outcome in Indiana give him a wider lead in pledged delegates and in the popular vote.

This boosts the case he can make to the uncommitted superdelegates, party officials and elected office holders⁸ who are free to vote as they please at the party's nominating convention in August. Obama campaign officials say they expect more superdelegates to declare their support for him this week.

As Senator Clinton spoke⁹ to supporters late Tuesday in Indianapolis, the race was still too close to call. But she expressed determination to fight on until the end.

"Not too long ago, my opponent made a prediction: he said I would probably win Pennsylvania, he would win North Carolina and Indiana would be the tie breaker," said Clinton. "Well tonight we have come from behind, we have broken the tie and thanks to you it is full speed on to the White House."

The former First Lady also appealed to her supporters for cash, which could become an issue with six remaining primaries to go, ending on June 3.

She is showing no public signs of ending her campaign though, adding an appearance in West Virginia, where the next primary will be held next week. Senator Obama is taking the day off to be with his family.

After his victory Tuesday, Obama seemed to turn his focus to uniting the party behind him to face Republican rival Senator John McCain in the November general election.

"We cannot afford to give John McCain the chance to serve out George Bush's third term," said Obama. "We need change in America and that is why we will be united in November."

Senator Clinton also had some conciliatory lines in her victory speech, pledging that she will work for the Democratic nominee¹⁰ because her party must win in November.

1 eked   

v.（靠节省用量）使…的供应持久( eke的过去式和过去分词 )；节约使用；竭力维持生计；勉强度日

参考例句：

• She eked out the stew to make another meal. 她省出一些钝菜再做一顿饭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She eked out her small income by washing clothes for other people. 她替人洗衣以贴补微薄的收入。 来自辞典例句

2 vowing   

起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild its collapsed bridge. 布什总统承诺将帮助明尼阿波利斯重建坍塌的大桥。
• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild this collapse bridge. 布什总统发誓要帮助明尼阿波利斯重建起这座坍塌的桥梁。

3 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。

4 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》

5 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。

6 clinching   

v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的现在分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议）

参考例句：

• Joe gets clinching evidence of the brains role when he dreams. 乔做梦时得到了大脑发生作用的决定性依据。 来自辞典例句
• Clinching, wrestling, pushing, or seizing, without attempting a throw or other technique. 抱，扭摔，推或抓而没有摔或其它的技术。 来自互联网

7 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。

8 holders   

支持物( holder的名词复数 )； 持有者； （支票等）持有人； 支托（或握持）…之物

参考例句：

• Slaves were mercilessly ground down by slave holders. 奴隶受奴隶主的残酷压迫。
• It is recognition of compassion's part that leads the up-holders of capital punishment to accuse the abolitionists of sentimentality in being more sorry for the murderer than for his victim. 正是对怜悯的作用有了认识，才使得死刑的提倡者指控主张废除死刑的人感情用事，同情谋杀犯胜过同情受害者。

9 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

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。