The power and the glory

THE tide began turning late on Tuesday evening. Earlier, the portents were not good for President George W Bush’s re-election campaign.

As Mr Bush returned to Washington DC aboard Air Force One on election day, the first exit polls suggested Senator John Kerry was out-performing him in the national vote, and, critically, in the three battleground states of Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

By early evening, the Democrats were making encouraging noises. "It's going to be a good night for John Kerry," Ted Kennedy said.