罗姆尼、佩里和巴克曼领先共和党总统参选人

In U.S. politics, the crowded Republican presidential field is beginning to clarify, following a test vote in Iowa on Saturday and the addition of Texas Governor Rick Perry to the race.

在美国的政坛，随着8月13日星期六爱奥华州的一次测试性投票以及德克萨斯州州长里克·佩里宣布参选，众多的共和党总统竞选人的竞争态势开始明朗。

Political experts say the Republican race for the moment features three contenders who stand above the rest of the crowded field-former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, Texas Governor Rick Perry and Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann.

政治专家表示，目前共和党总统参选人的竞争态势显示出，三名竞选人明显领先于其他参选人，这三人分别是前麻萨诸塞州州长米特·罗姆尼、德克萨斯州州长里克·佩里以及来自明尼苏达州的国会女众议员米歇尔·巴克曼。

Bachmann got a boost with her victory in the Iowa Republican straw poll, a test vote for the contenders that could serve as a preview for Iowa’s important presidential caucus vote early next year.

巴克曼在爱奥华州举行的意向性投票中赢得胜利，这大大提升了她的选情。那是一次测试性的投票，对于参选人来说，那次投票可以被视为明年年初爱奥华州重要的总统候选人党内初选的一次预演。

“Obama is my strategy. I intend to be the nominee of the Republican Party and to take him on and defeat him in 2012,” she said.

巴克曼说：“奥巴马是我的战略考量。我希望成为共和党的总统候选人，和奥巴马决一雌雄，在2012年大选中击败他。”

But Bachmann’s victory was overshadowed somewhat by the entrance into the race of Texas Governor Rick Perry.

但是，巴克曼的胜利在某种程度上由于德克萨斯州州长佩里的中途加入而有些失色。

“I believe in America. I believe in her purpose and in her promise,"Perry said. "I believe her best days have not yet been lived. And with your help and the grace of God, we will get America working again.”

佩里说：“我信仰美国。我信仰她的目标和她的承诺。我相信她的黄金岁月仍然没有结束。在你们的帮助下，凭借着上帝的恩典，我们将再次让美国崛起。”

Like Bachmann, Perry appeals to both social conservatives and Tea Party activists who want to reduce the size of the federal government.

对于社会保守派和希望缩减联邦政府规模的茶党活动人士来说佩里和巴克曼很有吸引力。

Perry also hopes to win support from economic conservatives who have favored the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.

佩里还希望能够赢得一直青睐共和党竞选阵营的领跑者、前麻萨诸塞州州长罗姆尼的经济保守人士的支持。

Romney has been concentrating his fire on President Barack Obama.

罗姆尼一直集中他的火力抨击奥巴马总统。

“I saw this morning that his approval ratings are at an all-time low for him. That is not because he is not campaigning. It is because he is not leading," he said. "The American people need a president who will lead this economy back to vitality.”

他说：“我今天早晨看到，他的支持率处于历来最低的水平。这不是因为他没有发起竞选，而是因为他没有领导能力。美国人民需要一位能让经济重现生机的总统。”