If Nancy Pelosi and John Boehner get their way when the House of Representatives votes for a second time on the $700bn rescue bill, every Republican who changes his or her vote from No to Yes will be joined by a Democrat who has also had a change of heart.

“Given it is still unpopular, the House leadership will want – just like Noah’s Ark – two by two walking the plank,” says Mike Franc of the Heritage Foundation.