Democrats too are facing up to a Trump candidacy. They ridicule him, in the sure and certain belief he cannot beat Hillary Clinton: a prominent New York architect told me that Mr Trump and his family are “like an upmarket version of the Kardashians”. The liberal media’s tune is subtly changing. Mocking articles have evolved into ones about “how could we have gotten this so wrong?” (Answer: the media are as out of touch as the politicos who share their East Coast cocoon and who spoonfeed them.)
Now the articles are about “what happens when parties can’t derail dodgy candidates”, and are turning towards “how Hillary will see off The Donald”. On Super Tuesday, a poll claimed 49 per cent of Americans had “very negative” feelings about Mr Trump; but also that 39 per cent had “very negative” feelings about Mrs Clinton. Last Wednesday a Washington official was granted immunity from prosecution in the FBI investigation into Mrs Clinton’s use of private emails when Secretary of State; even some Democrats concede there is a chance of her being indicted before election day.

Mrs Clinton is widely seen as “not honest”. She is also a dreadful speaker: her victory speech last Tuesday was a concatenation of clichés droned out with a mechanical lack of conviction, and culminating in the bizarre “let’s make America whole”. Mr Trump is a fine stand-up comedian. He has some of the actorish charm of Ronald Reagan, even if he lacks his political sense. It carried Reagan far, and may similarly serve Mr Trump.

According to the New York Times there was a “secret” plan in the Clinton camp to deploy President Bill Clinton to take on Mr Trump, and expose the shallowness and dishonesty of his bombast, hyperbole and insult. That would be brave, given the dirt on President Clinton, how impervious Mr Trump has proved, and how his public love him violating the Queensberry Rules.