VOA标准英语2012--Romney Begins Vice Presidential Search

Romney Begins Vice¹ Presidential Search

With his Republican rivals either out of the race or low on money, Mitt² Romney now seems to be on a glide³ path toward the Republican presidential nomination⁴.

Romney is increasingly turning his attention to President Barack Obama.

“This man is out of ideas, he is out of excuses, and in 2012 we are going to make sure he gets put out of office!,” Romney said.

Romney’s first major decision will be to select a vice presidential running mate, and one of those expected to be on his short list of candidates is Senator Marco Rubio of Florida.

Rubio says he would be flattered to be asked, but he says the answer is no.

“Because I’m enjoying my service in the Senate,” Rubio said. "I don’t want to be the vice president right now or maybe ever.”

Other possible contenders include Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and New Jersey⁵ Governor Chris Christie. But Christie also says he is not interested.

“But he knows it is not my desire, my lifelong wish, to be vice president of the United States,” Christie said.

Romney’s choice is important, says former Reagan Chief of Staff Ken⁶ Duberstein.

“Whoever a presidential nominee⁷ selects as vice president, as his nominee, that is the first major judgment⁸ that the American people see about that presidential candidate,” Duberstein said.

Four years ago, Republican John McCain’s decision to pick Alaska Governor Sarah Palin hurt him with independent voters, something Romney is likely to try to avoid, says Duberstein.

“In light of 2008, Governor Romney, I think, will go with somebody who everybody will perceive can step in and be president in a heartbeat. If you are going to select somebody as one step away from the presidency⁹, that person has to be prepared to be president on the very first day,” he said.

Historically, vice presidential running mates are not major factors in presidential elections.

But they can offer small advantages, says political analyst¹⁰ Rhodes Cook.

“It can be important more in terms of, say, a certain state. If there is someone who can help bring you a major state, be it Florida, Ohio, Michigan, something like that. Then yes, it could make a difference,” Cook said.

Romney is expected to secure the number of delegates he needs for the Republican nomination in June, but the search for a running mate is expected to take longer. 

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

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 glide   

n./v.溜，滑行；(时间)消逝

参考例句：

• We stood in silence watching the snake glide effortlessly.我们噤若寒蝉地站着，眼看那条蛇逍遥自在地游来游去。
• So graceful was the ballerina that she just seemed to glide.那芭蕾舞女演员翩跹起舞，宛如滑翔。

4 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。

5 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

6 ken   

n.视野，知识领域

参考例句：

• Such things are beyond my ken.我可不懂这些事。
• Abstract words are beyond the ken of children.抽象的言辞超出小孩所理解的范围.

7 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。

8 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

9 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。

10 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。