The 34th District Democrats finished a late meeting Wednesday night in West Seattle at about midnight.

Incumbent Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, who has been an elected official from that part of town for more than 20 years, ended the night with a dual endorsement. He was shy of the two-thirds-vote necessary for a sole endorsement.

He shared the endorsement with Mike McGinn, a former chairman of the local Sierra Club, who lives in the Greenwood neighborhood.

Until now, the mayor has been largely shut out by the Democrats, who seem to be looking for an outsider to support. (Nickels did win a sole endorsement from the 11th District Democrats, of south Seattle, Renton and Tukwila.)

It's worth remembering that Nickels also got plenty of snubs from Democratic districts back in 2005 - yet went on to easily win reelection. But that year, Nickels faced weak opposition candidates, led by former UW professor Al Runte. His rivals this year are much better known and organized.

Seattle City Councilmember Jan Drago hasn't picked up any Democratic endorsements. Self-funded business-executive candidate Joe Mallahan has done well with the districts. (He and McGinn were co-endorsed by the Metropolitan Democratic Club Wednesday afternoon, as well).

The Democratic districts tend to be loyal to their own, which explains how underdog Seattle City Council candidate Dorsol Plants got a dual endorsement with Sally Bagshaw (for Position 4) and David Ginsberg (for Position 2) earned a dual endorsement with incumbent Richard Conlin. Both Plants and Ginsberg have been active in the 34th.

The loyalty question put Position 4 candidate Bagshaw on the defensive at one point Wednesday night. Although she identifies herself as a Democrat, she has worked for several Republicans, including the late King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng, King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg, and State Attorney General Rob McKenna.

Bagshaw said her experience proves she can work with all kinds of people. She told the crowd: "I believe in Barack Obama and not in George Bush."

She barely got the dual endorsement, in a revote.

The final Democratic district endorsement is tonight, when the 36th District Democrats, of have their meeting.