Republicans Seek To Attract Young Voters

共和党加紧吸引年轻选民投票支持

　

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has drawn wide support from college students and other youthful voters, many of whom have volunteered for his campaign. But Republicans, now holding their convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, are also trying to attract young voters.

　

民主党总统候选人奥巴马吸引了大量大学生和年轻选民的支持，许多人为他义务助选。但是，目前正在圣保罗召开大会的共和党，也试图吸引年轻选民。

At a rally with members of the Young Republicans from around the country at the Minneapolis Hard Rock Cafe, former presidential candidate and Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee addressed the importance of attracting young voters to the Republican presidential ticket this year. He called candidate John McCain a man of character and a model for all Americans, and he hailed his chosen running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, as a champion of reform and an opponent of abortion.

　

在明尼阿波利斯热门音乐餐厅里来自全国各地年轻的共和党人的一场聚会上，前总统参选人哈克比谈到吸引年轻选民对今年共和党总统候选人的重要性。哈克比说，麦凯恩品格高尚，是全体美国人的榜样。他并且赞扬麦凯恩选择阿拉斯加州长佩林作为竞选夥伴，因为佩林是改革的旗手而且反对堕胎。

Huckabee referred to Hurricane Gustav battering the Gulf Coast, in emphasizing the importance of human life.

　

哈克比在谈及古斯塔夫飓风侵袭墨西哥湾沿岸的时候，强调了人的生命的重要性。

"Whether it is a life in the womb or whether it is a life on the Gulf coast that is being threatened by a natural disaster, we as a society and as a civilization separate ourselves from the rest of the world in our commitment to human life," said Mike Huckabee.

　

他说：“不论是子宫里孕育的生命，还是在墨西哥湾沿岸受到自然灾害威胁的生命，作为一个社会和一个文明，我们以对生命的承诺将自己区分于世界其他地区。”

Huckabee told reporters that his party will work to attract youthful voters because they represent the future of the party and the country.

　

哈克比告诉记者说，共和党将致力吸引年轻选民，因为他们代表党和国家的未来。

"Obviously, the youth vote is the critical vote, because they are the ones most affected by how this thing turns out, far more so than people my age," he said. "I think a lot of them understand that , they get it, and they need somebody who is not so much young, but who understands the future of this country and that is why John McCain is the best pick."

　

“很显然，年轻人的选票是关键的选票，因为选举的结果对他们的影响最大，远远大于对我这个年纪的人的影响。我想，他们很多人了解这点，他们知道这点，而且他们需要一个不那么年轻、但是了解国家未来的人，而这就是为什么麦凯恩是最佳选择。”

Among the youthful members of the audience at the Hard Rock Cafe gathering was Luke Orlando from Manville, Texas. He cannot vote since he is only 14-years-old, but he plans to work for the party as a volunteer. Although his state is a pretty safe bet for John McCain, he says there are other races that are also important.

　

在热门音乐餐厅聚会的年轻听众中，有位来自德克萨斯州的叫奥兰多的只有14岁的少年。他还不能投票，但是他计划做共和党的义工。他说，虽然麦凯恩在他的州稳赢，但是其他的选举也很重要。

"We have to remember that Republicans are not just competing in the presidential election, we have statewide elections, which are very important, especially for our senator, Senator John Cornyn, and I will be supporting his efforts," said Luke Orlando.

　

奥兰多说：“我们必须记得共和党人不只是竞选总统，我们州里的其他选举，特别是对参议员科宁来说，我将支持他的竞选努力。”

Political analysts say Republicans are not likely to match the appeal to youth that Barack Obama has generated. The Democrat is expected to win around 60 percent of the vote in the 18-30-year-old age category. But he is not the only candidate who has excited interest among young voters. There is also Dr. Ron Paul, a physician and congressman from a South Texas district, who failed to even come close to winning the Republican nomination this year, but still holds sway over millions of supporters, many of them younger than 30.

　

政治分析家人士说，共和党人在吸引年轻选民方面可能比不上奥巴马。预计在18岁到30岁的选民中，民主党会赢得大约百分之60的选票。但是奥巴马不是激起年轻选民热情的唯一候选人。德克萨斯州南部一个选区的罗恩.保罗医生虽然在共和党的提名中远远落后，但是仍然有100万以上的人支持他，其中很多人不到30岁。

Paul is holding a rally at the Target Center auditorium in Minneapolis Tuesday, and 17-year-old Kevin Duewel from Sacramento, California plans to be there.

　

保罗星期二将在明尼阿波利斯的目标中心大礼堂举行一场集会，来自加州萨克拉门托现年17岁的杜维尔计划参加。

"Doctor Paul cured my apathy," said Kevin Duewel. "I was feeling disenfranchised not only by the Democratic Party, but more specifically by the Republican Party. When I found Dr Paul, I suddenly realized he was different from the other bunch of politicians."

　

杜维尔说：“保罗医生治愈了我的失落感。我的失落感不仅仅因为民主党，更主要因为共和党。我看到保罗医生后，我突然发现他不同于其他的政治人物。”

Duewel says Ron Paul represents libertarian ideals of small government and non-intervention in foreign affairs that appeal to many young people. But, he says, the people who rally behind Paul support his ideals, not necessarily his failed candidacy.

　

杜维尔表示，保罗代表了自由主义理想，主张小政府，不干预外国事务，这吸引了许多年轻人。他说，人们聚集起来支持的是他的理念，而不一定是他失败的候选人提名。

"It is not him, it's the movement, and that is the use of him holding a rally tomorrow, the Campaign for Liberty, that is what it is for," he said. "It is not to put Ron Paul in the presidency, we are quite aware that he is not going to get the nomination."

　

他说：“不是他，而是这个运动，明天是利用他而举行这项集会，是为了自由的运动，这就是目的。不是要把保罗当成总统候选人，我们非常了解他不会获得提名。”

Duewel says he hopes the limited government movement will gain force in the years ahead and take hold among both Democrats and Republicans.

　

杜维尔希望，小政府运动将在未来几年不断壮大，并且在民主党人和共和党人中都得到支持。