John McCain’s recent penchant for springing surprises – Sarah Palin, his momentary “suspension” of campaigning because of the financial crisis, to name but two – had led many to wonder what he might do at his second televised debate with Barack Obama. Accuse his opponent of giving comfort to terrorists, a desperate line that Ms Palin has been cranking out recently? Perhaps throw a punch, catching Mr Obama off-guard by accusing him of callow recklessness? The Democrat had surely invited this turn of events, by telling an interviewer who asked him about negative campaigning: “I don’t throw the first punch, but you can be sure I’ll throw the last.” If that was not a challenge to physical combat, what is?

Sadly no. Mr McCain blinked, and there was no violence, even of the verbal kind. The event was short on spectacle and short on everything else.