VOA标准英语2012--Low Voter Enthusiasm Doesn't Prevent Romney Win in Ohio

Low Voter Enthusiasm Doesn't Prevent Romney Win in Ohio

 "Tonight we are doing some counting. We are counting up the delegates for the convention, and it looks good. And we are counting down the days to November, and that looks even better,” exclaimed Romney to a cheering crowd in the state he once governed.

It was a good night for Romney. He won the most delegates in the 10 states that held presidential nominating contests, including Ohio where his victory over former U.S. senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania did not come until past midnight.

But it was a narrow victory, leaving Santorum still in the race for the Republican nomination¹.

Voters lack enthusiasm

The enthusiasm of the crowd that cheered for Romney's speech far exceeded voter enthusiasm at a polling station in Columbus, Ohio.

“I voted for Mitt² Romney because I think he is the strongest person, and I just want this to be over so we can start concentrating on beating [President Barack] Obama,” said voter Pat Zadnik.

Casey Welch was one of Ohio's many voters who remained undecided about frontrunners Romney and Santorum until the end.

“I voted for Mitt Romney today. I think he is best suited to get the economy back on track and help America move forward,” said Welch. 

When asked when he made that decision, he replied, “just today.”

Many Republican voters remain uncertain. Romney is the frontrunner, but not a dominant³ candidate. And some voters feel social conservatives such as Santorum and Newt Gingrich, who won his home state of Georgia, are too polarizing.

The economy is the key issue, with voters in Ohio's countryside and cities worried about job losses and the soaring national debt.

“I voted for Mitt Romney because I think he is a good businessman, and I think government is a business and we need somebody in there that knows what they are doing,” explained Ohio voter Jinnie Buskirk.

Delegates

It is a numbers game. Candidates are trying to secure the 1,144 delegates needed to win the nomination.

Santorum essentially⁴ split the vote in Ohio, despite being heavily outspent by Romney's campaign.

Santorum was triumphant⁵ after winning states in the south and midwest. He addressed a crowd in Steubenville, Ohio, a former steel mill town where he had campaigned.

“Tonight it is clear,” said Santorum. “It is clear. We have won races all over this country against the odds⁶. When they thought 'OK, he is finally finished,' we keep coming back.” 

That is good news to Ohio voters such as Jack⁷ Auer.

“They all carry baggage, for crying out loud, but Santorum, I think, has remained fairly constant in his positions, his social things. That is important,” said Auer. “And, of course, the economy is the main thing as far as I am concerned.”

Swing voters, swing state 

And there are some lifelong Republicans who plan to vote for Democratic President Barack Obama in November.

“I think the Republican Party has been taken over by right-wing conservatives out of touch with the things that Americans actually need,” said exasperated⁸ Ohio voter John Payne. 

It is a sentiment that carries weight in a state that has sometimes gone Republican and sometimes Democratic in past general elections.

1 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。

2 mitt   

n.棒球手套，拳击手套，无指手套；vt.铐住，握手

参考例句：

• I gave him a baseball mitt for his birthday.为祝贺他的生日，我送给他一只棒球手套。
• Tom squeezed a mitt and a glove into the bag.汤姆把棒球手套和手套都塞进袋子里。

3 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。

4 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

5 triumphant   

adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的

参考例句：

• The army made a triumphant entry into the enemy's capital.部队胜利地进入了敌方首都。
• There was a positively triumphant note in her voice.她的声音里带有一种极为得意的语气。

6 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

7 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

8 exasperated   

adj.恼怒的

参考例句：

• We were exasperated at his ill behaviour. 我们对他的恶劣行为感到非常恼怒。
• Constant interruption of his work exasperated him. 对他工作不断的干扰使他恼怒。