The Presidential Campaign Heats Up with Less Than One Hundred Days to the Election

The Presidential Campaign Heats Up with Less Than One Hundred Days to the Election
Both candidates have turned to negative television advertisements as the election nears. Public opinion studies show Barack Obama and John McCain with almost equal support. Transcript of radio broadcast:
02 August 2008


This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.

The November fourth presidential election in the United States is only about three months away. The two candidates are in a close race. Recent opinion studies show voters are most concerned about the economy and high fuel prices.

One important issue is taxes. The Democratic Party candidate, Senator Barack Obama, opposes tax cuts for rich people. But he has promised to cut taxes for middle income Americans. The likely Republican Party nominee, Senator John McCain, had opposed President Bush's tax cut plan for wealthy Americans. But now the Arizona senator supports their continuation.

Barack Obama returned to talking about the economy and other national issues this week, after completing a trip to the Middle East and Europe last week. He met with officials in Afghanistan and Iraq and with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. In the German capital, Berlin, about two hundred thousand people gathered to hear Senator Obama speak. They waved American flags as they cheered. Senator Obama's trip was meant to improve public opinion of his ability to lead foreign policy and be commander in chief of the armed forces.

While Mister Obama was traveling to other countries, Mister McCain visited cities and towns throughout the United States. Senator McCain's campaign has complained that media coverage of Barack Obama's trip was unfairly positive.

But recent public opinion study results do not seem to have changed much since Senator Obama returned to the United States. The latest Gallup public opinion study of national registered voters shows Mister Obama leading Mister McCain by only one percentage point.

The poll represents opinions gathered between Monday and Wednesday of this week. The race has remained close between the two candidates throughout the summer.


This week, both campaigns have been broadcasting negative advertising on television around the country. One advertisement from the McCain campaign questions Senator Obama's experience to lead the country. It combines pictures of Mister Obama speaking to the huge crowd in Germany with images of the famous celebrities Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. The ad says: "He is the biggest celebrity in the world. But is he ready to lead?" The Obama campaign released its own advertisement that says: "John McCain. Same old politics, same failed policies."
In addition to long days of campaigning, both candidates are also in the process of choosing their vice presidential candidates. The Democratic and Republican nominating conventions will be held in late August and early September.

And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English, written by Brianna Blake. You can read scripts and download audio on our Web site, voaspecialenglish.com. I'm Steve Ember.

----------------------------Google Translate

总统竞选活动升温，不到一百天，以选举
两位候选人已转向负面电视广告随着选举的接近。民意研究表明，巴拉克奥巴马和麦凯恩与几乎相等的支持。全文电台广播：
2008年8月2日

这是在新闻中在美国之音特别英语。

11月第四次总统选举，在美国，大约只有3个月内消失。两位候选人都在密切的种族。最近的民意研究显示，选民最关心的经济和高燃油价格。

一个重要的问题是税收。民主党总统候选人，参议员巴拉克奥巴马，反对减税为富有的人。但他已承诺减税为中等收入的美国人。可能，共和两党提名，参议员麦凯恩，曾经反对布什总统的减税计划，为富裕的美国人。但现在亚利桑那州的参议员支持他们继续下去。

巴拉克奥巴马回到谈论经济和其他国家的问题，这个星期，完成后，去中东和欧洲上周。他会见了官员在阿富汗和伊拉克，并与以色列和巴勒斯坦领导人。在德国首都柏林，约20.0万人聚集听到参议员奥巴马发言。他们挥舞着美国国旗，为他们欢呼。参议员奥巴马此行的用意是改善公众舆论，他领导能力的外交政策，并在指挥官兼武装部队总司令。

而米斯特塞奥巴马前往其他国家，米斯特塞麦凯恩参观了城市和城镇在美国各地。麦凯恩参议员的竞选抱怨说，媒体报道巴拉克奥巴马的行程是不公平的正面的。

但最近的民意研究结果似乎并不具有太大的改变，因为参议员奥巴马返回美国。最新的盖洛普民意研究的国家已登记的选民显示，米斯特塞奥巴马领导米斯特塞麦凯恩是只由一个百分点。

民调代表的意见，收集之间的星期一和周三在这个星期。比赛一直保持密切两国之间的候选人，整个夏天。


这个星期，无论是运动已经广播的负面广告在电视上全国各地。一个广告从麦凯恩运动的问题，参议员奥巴马的经验，以带领国家。它结合了图片米斯特塞奥巴马来说，以庞大的人群在德国与形象的著名的名人Britney Spears和Paris Hilton的。广告说： “他是最大的名人，在世界上，但他愿意带头” ？该奥巴马运动，发表了自己的广告说： “麦凯恩。相同的旧政治，同样的失败的政策” 。
此外，长天的竞选活动，两位候选人也有在这一过程中选择副总统候选人。民主党和共和党的提名公约将举行在8月底和9月初。

这是在新闻中在美国之音特别英语，写的brianna布雷克。您可以阅读脚本和下载音频在我们的网站上， voaspecialenglish.com 。我史蒂夫ember 。