美國總統選舉初選即將在愛奧華州開始

After Months of rallies, speeches and debates, the U.S. primary election campaign is set to formally get under way Monday, when Iowa residents cast their presidential preference at caucus sites across the Midwestern state.

經過數月的集會、演講和辯論後，美國總統選舉的初選階段於星期一正式開始，中西部愛奧華州的選民們將在黨團會議地點投票。

Ahead of the crucial, first-in-the-nation 2016 vote, opinion polls in Iowa revealed a tantalizingly close race for both the Republican and Democratic Party nominations.

在愛奧華州率先舉行至關重要的2016年初選投票之前，該州民調顯示，共和黨和民主黨的選情都十分膠着。

On the Republican side, real estate developer Donald Trump maintains a slight lead over Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who appears to have made several missteps in the lead-up to the Iowa caucuses.

在共和黨方面，房地產大亨川普繼續以微弱優勢領先於德克薩斯州聯邦參議員克魯茲。在愛奧華州初選即將開始之際，克魯茲看來有過幾次失誤。

For the Democrats, the race seems to be a virtual tie between former secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, the self-declared democratic socialist.

在民主黨方面，前國務卿希拉里·克林頓和佛蒙特州聯邦參議員桑德斯幾乎並駕齊驅。桑德斯自稱是民主社會主義者。

Candidates in both parties made a final sprint through Iowa Sunday, holding events in every corner of the state, stepping up attacks on rivals and making last-minute appeals to key voter groups.

兩黨總統參選人星期日在愛奧華州做了最後衝刺，他們在愛奧華州各地發表演講，加緊抨擊對手，並在最後一刻爭取重要選民組織的支持。