It would be hard to describe a dial-in call with Barack Obama as intimate.

His attempt to rally the 13,000 shell-shocked Democrats who signed up to listen somehow felt more personal than a televised address. His message was pretty simple: it was time for activists to roll up their sleeves and get to work. The outgoing President was impressive, but he always is. Even Mr Obama’s opponents pay tribute to his oratory. But he ducked the big question facing the party, which is where it goes from here.

Somehow, the Democrats contrived to lose an election to a candidate perceived as racist, sexist and, in the opinion of many, totally unqualified for the Presidency. Not only that, but the party was deserted by many of its core blue-collar working class voters. Michigan, for example, should have been a safe bet for the Democrats but somehow it went for Donald Trump – albeit by only 12,000 votes.