Elsewhere, particularly in the Western world, the contests have been largely bloodless.

Moscow's swift, largely bloodless annexation of Ukraine's Russian-speaking Crimea region grabbed Europe's attention.

Cork's was a largely bloodless coup, the 11 yellow cards and occasional off-the-ball spats notwithstanding.

On Monday Coakley, who has run a largely bloodless campaign, finally went on the attack, accusing Brown of wanting to take the country backward.