At one otherwise uneventful stop in the closing stages of America’s midterm elections this week, George Allen, who is running for a second term as Virginia’s Republican senator, had visibly to rein in his temper.

Having been asked about two alleged criminal records from his student days – fishing without a licence and speeding – Mr Allen said: “This has been the most negative, vicious and falsehood-dominated campaign that Virginia has ever seen . . .  I mean, getting a citation for fishing without a licence when I was a student – now that’s an important issue.”