两个主要政党的美国总统候选人都强调对华盛顿改革的必要性。在全国播放的采访中，民主党候选人奥巴马和共和党候选人麦凯恩都呼吁改革。

Senator Obama says during the remaining weeks of the campaign, he must convince voters that he is the only candidate who can really bring change to the nation's capital.

奥巴马参议员说，在余下数周的竞选活动中，他必须说服选民，只有他才是真正能够给美国首都华盛顿带来变革的唯一候选人。

"The American people know we are in a bad place. They understand that the country is off track. They know the economy is not working for them," said Obama. "And what they have to be persuaded of is that there is a big difference between the parties."

他说：“美国人民知道我们处在一个不利的境地。他们知道这个国家偏离了轨道。他们知道经济形势对他们不利。我们必须说服他们，民主、共和两党之间差异很大。”

Speaking on the ABC television program This Week, Obama said Americans have become cynical, and with good reason.

在美国广播公司“本周”节目中，奥巴马说，美国人变得玩世不恭，但并非没有他们的道理。

"And what I have got to say is there is a real difference here. John McCain, who is a good man and has a compelling biography, has embraced and adopted the George Bush economic platform," he added.

他说：“我要说的就是，我们在这一点有很大不同。麦凯恩是个好人，有着令人瞩目的经历，但他却接受和采纳了布什的经济政策框架。”

Senator McCain emphasized last week at his party's national convention that he has struck his own path throughout his political career. On the CBS broadcast Face the Nation, he said he would put in place a unity government, bringing in Democrats and independents at the highest levels.

麦凯恩参议员上周在共和党全国代表大会上说，他在他的政治生涯中一直坚持走自己的路。在哥伦比广播公司的“面向全国”节目中，他说，他将建立一个团结政府--让民主党人和独立人士担任政府中最高级别的职务。

"It is going to be the best people in America, the smartest people in America," said McCain. "So many of these problems we face, for example, energy independence, what is partisan about that?"

他说：“这个政府将会拥有美国最优秀人材，最聪明的人材。我们所面对的很多问题 -- 比如能源自主-- 这和党派有什么关系呢?”

McCain also praised his vice-presidential running mate, Alaska governor Sarah Palin, saying she has a clear record of reform.

麦凯恩还称赞了他的副总统竞选搭档、阿拉斯加州州长佩林，说她有成功的改革记录。

"She did the things that Americans want most," said McCain. "So in all due respect to any of the critics, what we want is the change in Washington. And who better in the political landscape could do that than Governor Sarah Palin whose whole life has been engaged in that?"

他说：“她做了美国人民最需要的事情。所以恕我对各方批评直言，我们需要的是给华盛顿带来变革。佩林州长毕生精力都致力于改革，在政治圈子里，还有谁比佩林更强?”

In the coming weeks, there will be three presidential debates between Senators McCain and Obama, and one debate involving Governor Palin and the Democratic Party's vice-presidential nominee, Senator Joseph Biden.

接下来的几个星期里将会有三场麦凯恩参议员和奥巴马参议员的总统辩论。还有一场副总统辩论将在佩林州长和拜登参议员之间进行。

Biden said Sunday that he considers Palin, a newcomer on the national political scene, to be a formidable opponent. He told the NBC program Meet the Press that he wants to hear more about her stands on individual issues.

拜登参议员星期天说，他认为尽管佩林是全国政治舞台上的新面孔，但却是一个强大的对手。他在美国全国广播公司“与媒体见面”节目中说，他希望更多了解佩林在各个议题上的立场。