Like I was saying earlier . . .

The contest to determine George Bush's successor is overshadowing the Fresno mayoral race.

So it figured that Sen. Barack Obama would sew up the Democratic nomination the same day that Fresnans went to the polls to winnow the field of candidates to succeed Alan Autry.

As I write this, Obama is addressing the nation via television from St. Paul, Minn., which just happens to be where the Republicans will hold their national convention in September.

And . . . Republican nominee John McCain formally will kick off his fall presidential campaign.