Two hours before Barack Obama delivered his electrifying victory speech to 17,000 euphoric supporters in St Paul, Minnesota, on Tuesday night, John McCain held an altogether more low-key event to mark the start of the general election campaign.

While Mr Obama brought his audience to its feet with his soaring, messianic oratory, Mr McCain gave a wooden and laboured performance that struggled to rouse his 600-strong crowd in a New Orleans sports arena.