New Vocabulary 5: "Next on Agenda Is Clinton's Role."

From Adam Nagourney, "Next on Agenda Is Clinton's Role," New York Times News Analysis, June 4, 2008.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/04/us/politics/04assess.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=barack%20obama%20heads%20into%20the%20general%20election%20campaign%20with&st=nyt&oref=slogin


* off the hook: if you are off the hook, you have escaped from a difficult situation.

* evade: (v) to avoid or escape from someone or something.

"If there was ever any hope in Democratic circles that she would let Mr. Obama off the hook with an evasion or a flat declaration of no interest, Mrs. Clinton dashed it on Tuesday."


* lavish: (v) to give someone a lot or too much, of something such as money, presents, or attention.

"It was hardly a surprise that Mr. Obama lavished praise on Mrs. Clinton and her accomplishments in his remarks Tuesday night."


* rectify: (v) to correct something or make sometihng right.

"Until he deals with the Clinton question, it could be hard for Mr. Obama to move on to what he would like to achieve next: presenting himself to the entire electorate and not just Democrats, laying out his political ideology before Mr. McCain does it on his terms and trying to rectify some of the weaknesses highlighted by the combative primary process."


* trump: (v) 1. if you trump another player's card, you beat it with a card that belongs to the group of cards that has been chosen to have the highest value in the game you are playing. 2. to beat someone or something by doing or producing something better.

"But it is not yet clear that those substantive issues will fully trump cultural issues and values — like race, patriotism and class — or the question of whether voters will judge Mr. Obama, just a few years out of the Illinois legislature, to have the experience necessary to sit in the Oval Office."


* dent: (v) to make a small hollow mark in the surface of something.

"Mrs. Clinton does not come alone; beyond her own history — and the legions of voters who do not like her — she would bring along former President Bill Clinton, whose baggage might well be judged by Mr. Obama to outweigh his political skills, especially after a primary season that left Mr. Clinton’s reputation dented."