AP Photo

On Thursday, I listened to the BBC News at seven in the morning after the first of the Obama/Romney US presidential debates three hours earlier. The report of the debate was only the third item on the news. So I knew, without having to hear any more, that Mitt Romney must have won. If Mr Obama had come out on top, the BBC would have led with the story. Then I watched the debate. It was true that Mr Romney seemed energised and Mr Obama seemed tired. But the most significant thing – and the reason for the Governor’s victory over the President – is that Mr Romney actually seemed interested in the economic crisis, and its social effects. He gave the impression of wanting to put it right and of knowing how to.