WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama won re-election to a second term in a close race against Republican challenger Mitt Romney. Growing optimism about the economy and a big voter turnout among Democrats appeared to make the difference.
华盛顿电：美国总统奥巴马小胜共和党对手罗姆尼，成功连任第二任期。对经济的日渐乐观和民主党人的高投票率似乎是奥巴马胜选的关键。
Reaction to President Barack Obama's victory was swift and passionate. Across the country, Obama supporters cheered. Supporters of Mitt Romney were left wondering why the Republican's White House bid fell short.
各界对奥巴马总统胜选的回应迅速而又热情。美国各地的奥巴马支持者都在欢呼庆祝。而罗姆尼的支持者正在思考为什么共和党输了总统大选。
In his victory speech, President Obama pledged to work with Congress to solve the nation's problems.
奥巴马在获胜演讲中承诺与国会共同努力解决国家的问题。
"And in the coming weeks and months I am looking forward to reaching out and working with leaders of both parties to meet the challenges we can only solve together," he said. "Reducing our deficit. Reforming our tax code. We have got more work do.
他说：“在今后数星期乃至数月期间，我将博采众议，与两党领袖一道努力，应对我们只有团结一致才能战胜的挑战。”“减少赤字，改革税法。我们还有很多工作要做。”
Romney said it's time to put partisan politics aside and work together for the good of the country.
罗姆尼表示双方是时候放下党派之争，为国家利益共同努力。
"This is a time of great challenges for America, and I pray that the president will be successful in guiding our nation," said Romney.
他说：“当前，美国面临着很多巨大的挑战，我满心期望奥巴马总统可以成功地领导我们的国家。”
The economy ranked as the top issue by nearly 60 percent of voters surveyed as they left polling places. Analysts say an improved economy made the difference in the key state of Ohio, where President Obama was credited with preventing the collapse of the U.S. auto industry and saving jobs.
选民离开投票站前接受的调查显示，近60%的选民认为经济问题仍是首要问题。分析人士表示，经济的改善改变了俄亥俄州这个关键州，奥巴马总统因为防止了美国汽车产业奔溃和挽救了就业岗位受到该州选民的好评。
"It is not campaigns that decide elections, it is governing," said Allan Lichtman, a political science professor at American University in Washington. "And it's not just the economy, but it is a broad range of governing factors.
Allan Lichtman是华盛顿美国大学的一位政治学教授。他说：“决定大选的并非竞选活动，而是执政（因素）。”“并不仅仅是经济问题，而是各种执政因素综合到一起。”
Another surprise of this election was the gender gap. Obama won women voters, while a majority of men voted for Romney. President Obama also did well with minorities, especially Hispanics, who gave Democrats their largest margin of support since 1996.
这次选举中的另一个出乎意料之处是性别差异。奥巴马赢得了女性选民的支持，而多数男性投票支持罗姆尼。奥巴马总统还赢得了少数族裔，特别是西班牙裔美国人的支持。自从1996年以来他们就全力支持民主党。
Lichtman says the Republican Party needs to broaden its support.
Lichtman说，共和党需要扩大其支持面。
"The Republican Party will not survive unless it figures out a way, and that is going to be really hard to appeal to minorities and to appeal to women, given their stance on abortion, on immigration, on civil rights," he said. "That is a tough task for Republicans.
他说：“共和党再找不到解决办法就将无法继续生存下去。但是，考虑到少数民族群体和妇女们在堕胎、移民和公民权利等问题上的立场，想要赢得他们的支持非常困难。这对共和党来说是一项艰巨的任务。”
Obama will again face a divided Congress. Democrats retained control of the U.S. Senate while Republicans kept control of the House of Representatives.
奥巴马将再次面对意见相左的国会。民主党人仍然控制参议院，而共和党人继续控制众议院。
Analysts say the president's supporters know their celebration could be short lived unless he and lawmakers find common ground to solve the nation's pressing problems.
分析人士表示，奥巴马总统的支持者知道他们的欢庆会昙花一现，除非奥巴马和议员们找到共同立场来解决国家的燃眉之急。
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