McGinn scores points — and endorsement

Excerpts from the blog

Seattle mayoral candidate Mike McGinn won the 43rd District Democrats' endorsement at a meeting Tuesday night at the University Heights Community Center.

The meeting in the former school was packed with McGinn supporters, and candidate Joe Mallahan — a member of the organization — made a brief appearance to answer 30 minutes' worth of questions. He didn't stick around to hear the results of the vote.

Mallahan touted his endorsements from six state legislators, saying his leadership style has attracted "the insiders, if you will."

That's true. Mallahan has picked up many of the mainstream endorsements previously held by no candidate or by incumbent Mayor Greg Nickels.

The Alki Foundation, the political arm of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce endorsed him this week, and representatives from the police and firefighter unions, which support him, were at Tuesday's meeting passing out fliers.

McGinn countered: "Having the support of insiders is one thing. Having the support of people is another."

McGinn's most triumphant moment of the night may have come with a question about transit. The moderator asked candidates to talk about streetcars and buses, and also to say when each last rode a Metro bus.

Mallahan recalled riding a bus over the summer from a Ballard bar to his home in Wallingford, but "I drive my Prius to work in Factoria," he said. Now that he's on leave from his job, he admitted: "I drive my Prius six blocks from my house over to Eastlake Avenue," where his campaign office is located.

McGinn has made a big deal throughout the campaign about being a bike commuter. He took the bus Tuesday.