VOA慢速英语:Lincoln-Douglas Debates Set the Stage for the 1860 Election

短语讲解：

1. One reporter said he looked like a fierce bulldog.

look like 看起来与（某人或某物）相像[相似]
例句：He doesn't look like a dead fox. 
他不象一只死狐狸。 

2. It must either permit slavery everywhere -- or nowhere.

either...or 不是…就是…，…或…，要么…要么…
例句：Either you work harder or I lover your salary. 
要么你工作再卖力点,要么我降低你的工资.(要么要么) 

3. But because of the way election areas had been organized, the Douglas Democrats won a majority of seats in the legislature.

because of 因为，由于
例句：All the planes were socked in yesterday because of the thick mist. 
由于雾大，昨天所有的飞机都停飞了。  
 
4. People began to speak of him as a presidential candidate in the election of 1860.

speak of 谈到， 讲到; 显示出…; 说到; 谈起
例句：Reading is the only hobby I can speak of. 
读书是我唯一值得一提的爱好。