This year's mayoral race is breaking down along the same political lines as the 2001 Greg Nickels vs. Mark Sidran nailbiter: Mallahan leading in the conservative, outer Seattle neighborhoods (and with older voters) and McGinn ahead in the progressive inner city.

Nickels won the 2001 mayor's race. Barely: 50.93 to 49.07—just a 3,158 vote advantage.

Big big difference between Mallahan and Sidran, though. Sidran had bad favorability ratings. People find Mallahan likeable.