Sen. Barack Obama's historic presidential victory prompts this question: Will Obama's strong network of support help Henry T. Perea become the mayor of Fresno?

Though the position is nonpartisan, Perea, a Democrat, has received enthusiastic backing from his party and its friends -- hundreds of thousands of dollars in independent expenditures for mailers and broadcast ads, along with precinct walkers from organized labor.

His opponent, Ashley Swearengin, is a Republican and received scant support from her party, compared to what Perea got.

A poll cited Friday by ABC30 suggested that Swearengin would cruise to victory. But with California Republicans lukewarm about John McCain, you have to wonder whether they flocked to the polls today.

Swearengin's saving grace might be controversial Proposition 8, which seeks to ban gay marriage in California. She supports the ban, while Perea opposes it.

We'll know more in the next hour or so.