奧巴馬、羅姆尼互使驕兵計,預熱首場總統辯論

Barack Obama and Mitt Romney were gearing up on Sunday for three days of intense preparations for the first of the US presidential debates, which is almost certain to be the Republican candidate's last chance to turn around his struggling campaign.

奧巴馬和羅姆尼上週日整裝待發，三天緊張籌備第一場美國總統辯論，幾乎可以肯定的是這是共和黨總統候選人最後一次機會扭轉競選形勢。

The 90-minute debate in Denver on Wednesday will be the first opportunity Americans will have to see the two candidates side by side and compare not only their policies but how they look and behave. The outcome could be decided by a hesitation in explaining a policy, a smart riposte or a display of arrogance.

星期三在丹佛的90分鐘辯論將是美國人第一次有機會看到兩位候選人站在一起，比較的不僅是他們各自的政策，而且包括他們的形象和表現。政策解釋時的猶豫，一個聰明的還擊或者顯示的囂張氣焰都可能決定最後的結果。

Each side took part in the usual ritual of talking up their opponent at the weekend in an attempt to dampen expectations. Paul Ryan, the Republican vice-presidential candidate, speaking on Fox News on Sunday, described Obama as "a very gifted speaker". Supporters of Obama claimed Romney had won nearly all of the debates during his gruelling nomination process.

每一方在上週末按照慣例擡高對手，試圖讓對方辜負選民的期望。保羅瑞安，共和黨副總統候選人星期天在福克斯新聞上說，奧巴馬是“一個天才的演講家”。奧巴馬的支持者聲稱羅姆尼在他艱苦的提名過程中已經贏得了幾乎所有的辯論。

Estimates for the number of viewers in America range from 50 million to 60 million, almost double the number who watched the party conventions. There will be two additional debates, in Long Island and Florida, but it is the first that usually has the most impact.

全美範圍內的觀衆人數估計在5000萬到6000萬，幾乎是觀看政黨議會人數的兩倍。在長島和佛羅里達州還將有兩場辯論，但通常是第一場辯論有着最大的影響。

Obama, with significant poll leads in the swing states, can play defence, just getting through the evening without making a mistake. The onus is on Romney to make an impression.

奧巴馬在搖擺州中有明顯的競選優勢，可以防守，只要整個晚上不犯錯就行。羅姆尼的責任是給大家留下深刻的印象。

Chris Christie, the Republican governor of New Jersey, acknowledged on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday that Romney would need to do well in the first debate. "You're going to have tens of millions of people for the first time really tuning in and paying attention to this race ... On Thursday morning the entire narrative of this race is going to change."

新澤西州的共和黨州長克里斯•克里斯蒂週日在NBC的媒體見面會上承認：羅姆尼需要在第一場辯論上表現出色。 “你將第一次面對數以百萬計的觀衆真正參與並關心這場比賽，週四早上對這場辯論的整個敘事是不會改變的。”

Both candidates were readying themselves for three days of intensive preparation. Obama, after a campaign event in Las Vegas on Sunday night, heads to Henderson half-an-hour's drive away for three days of preparation. Romney will also do three days of preparation, arriving in Denver Monday.

兩位候選人連續三天都將處在緊張的準備中。奧巴馬星期天晚上結束在拉斯維加斯競選活動後，半小時車程前往恆基進行爲期3天的準備。羅姆尼也將做3天的準備，週一抵達丹佛。