The news that Barack Obama had crossed the finishing line, had secured the Democratic nomination, and was thus quite likely the next president of the United States was slow to reach Hillary Clinton. While Mr Obama was telling his ecstatic supporters that “this is the moment” – did he even promise to lower the oceans? – Mrs Clinton was thanking her troops for her own historic victory (in the popular vote, correctly measured), explaining how they had made it possible, and asking their advice on what to do next, since she had noticed confusion in some quarters about who the winner really was.

Predictably, therefore, as the Democrats chose for the first time a black man to run for the White House – a historic moment, indeed – Mrs Clinton contrived to make herself the main story. She has also become the biggest test so far of Mr Obama’s ability to lead. How he deals with his disappointed rival and her avid followers over the coming days is the most important decision he has to make between now and the general election.