I worked summers at BBC Radio and conducted man-on-the-street interviews during the race riots in the Brixton area of London, building on what I had learned in school.

"If you do a Nexis search on her you will find it contains very mixed reports," says a transition staffer, alluding to race riots in Miami and close elections against weak opponents.

But the riots that were taking place at the same time, just a few hours' drive away, were a reminder that whoever wins the race will still have much work to do.