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VOA标准英语2012--Independent Voter Shines in US Political Spotlight

时间:2012-10-30 08:56:24

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Independent Voter Shines in US Political Spotlight1

One of those voters who has been thrust into the political spotlight and courted by Democrats2 and Republicans is Melanie McNamara, who owns a small furniture company in High Point, North Carolina. She is one of only a few manufacturers left in the city once called the "furniture capital of the world." McNamara promotes the "Made in America" cause.

"It is important for my city, it's important for my state and it's important for my country to still offer manufacturing jobs," McNamara said.

Her business success has catapulted her into the spotlight of presidential politics. She represents a demographic group - white female independent voters - that presidential candidates Barack Obama and Mitt3 Romney each need to win the election.

"Women are smart enough to see what is going on in this economy and they are not just one-issue voters," McNamara said.

President Obama is trying to hold onto his support among white women. A recent (Washington Post / ABC News ) opinion poll suggests the president is trailing Mitt Romney in support among whites and among independent voters. Obama won independent voters in 2008.

McNamara voted for Obama in 2008, but now supports Mitt Romney. She says the economy is her number one issue.

"I have seen in the last four years that not only manufacturing jobs have left but so many people are out of work here [in North Carolina] and I also see incomes dropping. When I go to the grocery store and I see people that are taking things out of their cart because they cannot afford them, that hits home," she said.

After the Romney campaign heard about McNamara they came calling, and she agreed to host a Romney rally at her furniture plant. It was a thrilling moment for her.

"When I had him here it was also nice to see him as an individual and not just the candidate that you see on TV making a speech," McNamara said.

The Romney campaign made McNamara's story the topic of a TV political ad.

Until now McNamara has not been active in politics. But she says it was time to speak out against proposed tax increases she says will hurt small business owners.

"If I do not have the revenue and I am going to be paying more taxes on everything else, then I am not going to have the revenue to grow my business, and if I cannot grow my business I cannot hire that next employee," she said.

McNamara says being an independent voter, courted by various political candidates, gives her a chance to voice ideas for improving the nation's economy by bringing manufacturing jobs back to an area of the country that needs them. 


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1 spotlight 6hBzmk     
n.公众注意的中心,聚光灯,探照灯,视听,注意,醒目
参考例句:
  • This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
  • The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。
2 democrats 655beefefdcaf76097d489a3ff245f76     
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》
3 mitt Znszwo     
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。

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