Bobby laps the field

　　鮑比一舉奪魁

　　Hints of a grander future in a comfortable victory

　　獲勝輕而易舉，美好未來初露端倪

　　THREE days before Louisianans headed to the polls on October 22nd, the leading Democraticcandidate for governor, Tara Hollis, told an audience in the low double digits at a campaignevent, Im David, and I dont mind taking on Goliath. Goliath in this case was Bobby Jindal, theoverwhelmingly popular Republican incumbent. Mrs Holliss sentiment was admirable, butDavid at least had a sling.

　　路易斯安那州于10月22日舉行州長(zhǎng)投票選舉。在這三天前的一次競(jìng)選活動(dòng)中，最有希望的民主黨人塔拉?侯麗斯的得票數(shù)僅有可憐的兩位數(shù)，但她告訴現(xiàn)場(chǎng)參加活動(dòng)的人：我就是大衛(wèi)，我不怕歌利亞[注1]決一雌雄。她所指的歌利亞便是共和黨炙手可熱的候選人鮑比?金達(dá)爾。侯麗斯的宣言令人敬佩，不過，大衛(wèi)至少還有一根機(jī)弦[注2]。

　　In political terms, Mrs Hollisa teacher from northern Louisiana galvanised into political actionwhen her husband, who taught at the same school, was sackedlacked even that. By her ownadmission she was a default candidate, becoming the Democratic front-runner because noone else stepped forwardeveryone thought someone would. She complained of receiving nohelp from the national party: They view Louisiana as a lost cause. In early October Mr Jindalhad over $6m on hand; Mrs Hollis had $384 .

　　侯麗斯曾是北路易斯安那州一名教師，在與她同所學(xué)校任教的丈夫被解雇后，她投身政治運(yùn)動(dòng)。就政治層面而言，她的確缺少這樣的機(jī)弦。她自己承認(rèn)，她是那只出頭鳥，之所以代表民主黨參選是因?yàn)闆]人愿意出這個(gè)風(fēng)頭每人都希望別人挺身而出。對(duì)于民主黨未向她提供任何幫助一事，她也表達(dá)了自己的不滿：他們認(rèn)為民主黨在路易斯安那州的競(jìng)選注定失敗。十月初，金達(dá)爾手頭有600萬美元的競(jìng)選資金，而侯麗斯只有384美元。

　　At her event Mrs Hollis spoke not of winning, but of holding Mr Jindal below 50%. Louisianasopen-primary system pits all candidates against each other. If none wins an outright majority,the two leading candidates compete in a run-off election . But even in that modest goal she failed: Mr Jindal took 66% of the vote,and Mrs Hollis finished a distant second of ten candidates, with 18%. No other candidatecracked 5%. Mr Jindals victory eclipsed the record set by Edwin Edwards, a four-term governorwho once boasted that the only way he could lose an election would be if he were caught inbed with either a dead girl or a live boy.

　　侯麗斯參選時(shí)曾表示，她的目標(biāo)并非勝出，而是使得金達(dá)爾的得票率保持在50%以下。在路易斯安那州的開放預(yù)選制度下，所有候選人針鋒相對(duì)。如果第一輪投票沒有候選者獲得絕對(duì)多數(shù)的投票，那么票數(shù)領(lǐng)先的兩名候選人將在第二輪投票中決一死戰(zhàn)。但即使是如此保守的一個(gè)目標(biāo)，侯麗斯也未能達(dá)到：金達(dá)爾獲得了66%的投票率。盡管侯麗斯的得票率在10名候選者中位列第二，但仍與金達(dá)爾相距甚遠(yuǎn)她僅有18%。其余候選人中沒有一人的得票率突破了5%。金達(dá)爾的勝利使得愛德文?愛德華茲也相形見絀。愛德華茲擔(dān)任了四屆路易斯安那州州長(zhǎng)，他曾宣稱，使他失掉競(jìng)選的唯一可能便是抓到他與一具女尸或一名男孩捉奸在床。

　　Also setting a record was the low turnout of not quite 36%. This was perhaps unsurprising,as the election was held on a Saturday, and Mr Jindals overwhelming popularity, not tomention his crushing financial advantage, made his victory an all-but-foregone conclusion. Heis an unusual figure in Louisiana politics: Ivy League educated, young and born in BatonRouge just months after his parents emigrated there from Punjab. When he was elected fouryears ago, at 36, he was the youngest governor and the only Indian-American one . He haspushed hard for ethics reform; no mean feat in a state that, as one former congressman putit, is half underwater and half under indictment.

　　同樣創(chuàng)下紀(jì)錄的，還有不到路易斯安那州人數(shù)36%的投票人數(shù)。這或許不足為奇，因?yàn)楦?jìng)選是在周六舉行的，此外，金達(dá)爾的廣受歡迎，更別提他的經(jīng)濟(jì)優(yōu)勢(shì)，都使他贏得競(jìng)選幾乎成了探囊取物。在路易斯安那州的政治家里，他算得上卓爾不群：畢業(yè)于常春藤盟校，年輕有為，在其父母從旁遮普移民到美國幾個(gè)月后，他在路州首府巴吞魯日出生。四年前，他贏得路州州長(zhǎng)競(jìng)選時(shí)，年僅36歲，成為了美國最年輕同時(shí)也是唯一一位印裔州長(zhǎng)[2010年，南卡羅萊納州選舉妮可?哈雷為州長(zhǎng)，父母也是來自旁遮普的她在金達(dá)爾贏得選舉后的6個(gè)月也成功當(dāng)選]。金達(dá)爾力推道德規(guī)范改革;正如一位前國會(huì)會(huì)員所評(píng)，在一個(gè)被洪災(zāi)和官司困擾的州，這算是了不起的成就了。

　　Mr Jindal won every parishtaking 38% of the vote even in heavily Democratic New Orleansand exceeded his victory four years ago by 12 points. A couple of the other races on theballotparticularly for lieutenant-governorwere more hotly contested, but in the endRepublicans won them all. They now hold every statewide office save one Senate seat inCongress, to which Mary Landrieu perilously clings.

　　金達(dá)爾在路州各行政區(qū)的投票中都已勝出甚至在民主黨候選人較多的新奧爾良也獲得了38% 的投票率其獲得的平均投票率較四年前高出12個(gè)百分點(diǎn)。而其他競(jìng)選中尤其是副州長(zhǎng)競(jìng)選中競(jìng)爭(zhēng)更為激烈，不過最終仍是共和黨大獲全勝。除了瑪麗?蘭德魯難以保住的一個(gè)國會(huì)議員席位外，共和黨已掌控了各州政府。

　　The question now is how long Mr Jindal remains in office. If Republicans win the presidency, hecould find himself in the cabinet. If Rick Perry wins the nomination, he could find himself sharingthe ticket: he endorsed Mr Perry early and enthusiastically. Should Barack Obama win, MrJindal could easily snatch that one last Senate seat from Ms Landrieu. Mr Jindal says he plans toserve out his full term as governor. Such plans are easily changed.

　　當(dāng)前問題是，金達(dá)爾的州長(zhǎng)任期會(huì)有多長(zhǎng)。如果共和黨贏得總統(tǒng)大選，他也許就能躋身內(nèi)閣。如果瑞奇?佩里贏得總統(tǒng)候選人提名，金達(dá)爾也許也能成為候選人之一：他一開始就全力支持佩里。如果巴拉克?奧巴馬成功連任，金達(dá)爾也許就能輕易獲得蘭德魯手中的議員席位。金達(dá)爾說他計(jì)劃擔(dān)任州長(zhǎng)一職直至任期結(jié)束。不過，這種計(jì)劃很容易就改弦易轍。

　　Bobby laps the field

　　鮑比一舉奪魁

　　Hints of a grander future in a comfortable victory

　　獲勝輕而易舉，美好未來初露端倪

　　THREE days before Louisianans headed to the polls on October 22nd, the leading Democraticcandidate for governor, Tara Hollis, told an audience in the low double digits at a campaignevent, Im David, and I dont mind taking on Goliath. Goliath in this case was Bobby Jindal, theoverwhelmingly popular Republican incumbent. Mrs Holliss sentiment was admirable, butDavid at least had a sling.

　　路易斯安那州于10月22日舉行州長(zhǎng)投票選舉。在這三天前的一次競(jìng)選活動(dòng)中，最有希望的民主黨人塔拉?侯麗斯的得票數(shù)僅有可憐的兩位數(shù)，但她告訴現(xiàn)場(chǎng)參加活動(dòng)的人：我就是大衛(wèi)，我不怕歌利亞[注1]決一雌雄。她所指的歌利亞便是共和黨炙手可熱的候選人鮑比?金達(dá)爾。侯麗斯的宣言令人敬佩，不過，大衛(wèi)至少還有一根機(jī)弦[注2]。

　　In political terms, Mrs Hollisa teacher from northern Louisiana galvanised into political actionwhen her husband, who taught at the same school, was sackedlacked even that. By her ownadmission she was a default candidate, becoming the Democratic front-runner because noone else stepped forwardeveryone thought someone would. She complained of receiving nohelp from the national party: They view Louisiana as a lost cause. In early October Mr Jindalhad over $6m on hand; Mrs Hollis had $384 .

　　侯麗斯曾是北路易斯安那州一名教師，在與她同所學(xué)校任教的丈夫被解雇后，她投身政治運(yùn)動(dòng)。就政治層面而言，她的確缺少這樣的機(jī)弦。她自己承認(rèn)，她是那只出頭鳥，之所以代表民主黨參選是因?yàn)闆]人愿意出這個(gè)風(fēng)頭每人都希望別人挺身而出。對(duì)于民主黨未向她提供任何幫助一事，她也表達(dá)了自己的不滿：他們認(rèn)為民主黨在路易斯安那州的競(jìng)選注定失敗。十月初，金達(dá)爾手頭有600萬美元的競(jìng)選資金，而侯麗斯只有384美元。

　　At her event Mrs Hollis spoke not of winning, but of holding Mr Jindal below 50%. Louisianasopen-primary system pits all candidates against each other. If none wins an outright majority,the two leading candidates compete in a run-off election . But even in that modest goal she failed: Mr Jindal took 66% of the vote,and Mrs Hollis finished a distant second of ten candidates, with 18%. No other candidatecracked 5%. Mr Jindals victory eclipsed the record set by Edwin Edwards, a four-term governorwho once boasted that the only way he could lose an election would be if he were caught inbed with either a dead girl or a live boy.

　　侯麗斯參選時(shí)曾表示，她的目標(biāo)并非勝出，而是使得金達(dá)爾的得票率保持在50%以下。在路易斯安那州的開放預(yù)選制度下，所有候選人針鋒相對(duì)。如果第一輪投票沒有候選者獲得絕對(duì)多數(shù)的投票，那么票數(shù)領(lǐng)先的兩名候選人將在第二輪投票中決一死戰(zhàn)。但即使是如此保守的一個(gè)目標(biāo)，侯麗斯也未能達(dá)到：金達(dá)爾獲得了66%的投票率。盡管侯麗斯的得票率在10名候選者中位列第二，但仍與金達(dá)爾相距甚遠(yuǎn)她僅有18%。其余候選人中沒有一人的得票率突破了5%。金達(dá)爾的勝利使得愛德文?愛德華茲也相形見絀。愛德華茲擔(dān)任了四屆路易斯安那州州長(zhǎng)，他曾宣稱，使他失掉競(jìng)選的唯一可能便是抓到他與一具女尸或一名男孩捉奸在床。

　　Also setting a record was the low turnout of not quite 36%. This was perhaps unsurprising,as the election was held on a Saturday, and Mr Jindals overwhelming popularity, not tomention his crushing financial advantage, made his victory an all-but-foregone conclusion. Heis an unusual figure in Louisiana politics: Ivy League educated, young and born in BatonRouge just months after his parents emigrated there from Punjab. When he was elected fouryears ago, at 36, he was the youngest governor and the only Indian-American one . He haspushed hard for ethics reform; no mean feat in a state that, as one former congressman putit, is half underwater and half under indictment.

　　同樣創(chuàng)下紀(jì)錄的，還有不到路易斯安那州人數(shù)36%的投票人數(shù)。這或許不足為奇，因?yàn)楦?jìng)選是在周六舉行的，此外，金達(dá)爾的廣受歡迎，更別提他的經(jīng)濟(jì)優(yōu)勢(shì)，都使他贏得競(jìng)選幾乎成了探囊取物。在路易斯安那州的政治家里，他算得上卓爾不群：畢業(yè)于常春藤盟校，年輕有為，在其父母從旁遮普移民到美國幾個(gè)月后，他在路州首府巴吞魯日出生。四年前，他贏得路州州長(zhǎng)競(jìng)選時(shí)，年僅36歲，成為了美國最年輕同時(shí)也是唯一一位印裔州長(zhǎng)[2010年，南卡羅萊納州選舉妮可?哈雷為州長(zhǎng)，父母也是來自旁遮普的她在金達(dá)爾贏得選舉后的6個(gè)月也成功當(dāng)選]。金達(dá)爾力推道德規(guī)范改革;正如一位前國會(huì)會(huì)員所評(píng)，在一個(gè)被洪災(zāi)和官司困擾的州，這算是了不起的成就了。

　　Mr Jindal won every parishtaking 38% of the vote even in heavily Democratic New Orleansand exceeded his victory four years ago by 12 points. A couple of the other races on theballotparticularly for lieutenant-governorwere more hotly contested, but in the endRepublicans won them all. They now hold every statewide office save one Senate seat inCongress, to which Mary Landrieu perilously clings.

　　金達(dá)爾在路州各行政區(qū)的投票中都已勝出甚至在民主黨候選人較多的新奧爾良也獲得了38% 的投票率其獲得的平均投票率較四年前高出12個(gè)百分點(diǎn)。而其他競(jìng)選中尤其是副州長(zhǎng)競(jìng)選中競(jìng)爭(zhēng)更為激烈，不過最終仍是共和黨大獲全勝。除了瑪麗?蘭德魯難以保住的一個(gè)國會(huì)議員席位外，共和黨已掌控了各州政府。

　　The question now is how long Mr Jindal remains in office. If Republicans win the presidency, hecould find himself in the cabinet. If Rick Perry wins the nomination, he could find himself sharingthe ticket: he endorsed Mr Perry early and enthusiastically. Should Barack Obama win, MrJindal could easily snatch that one last Senate seat from Ms Landrieu. Mr Jindal says he plans toserve out his full term as governor. Such plans are easily changed.

　　當(dāng)前問題是，金達(dá)爾的州長(zhǎng)任期會(huì)有多長(zhǎng)。如果共和黨贏得總統(tǒng)大選，他也許就能躋身內(nèi)閣。如果瑞奇?佩里贏得總統(tǒng)候選人提名，金達(dá)爾也許也能成為候選人之一：他一開始就全力支持佩里。如果巴拉克?奧巴馬成功連任，金達(dá)爾也許就能輕易獲得蘭德魯手中的議員席位。金達(dá)爾說他計(jì)劃擔(dān)任州長(zhǎng)一職直至任期結(jié)束。不過，這種計(jì)劃很容易就改弦易轍。