He's also thin and appears fit. But in the mayoral primary, [Michael Woo]'s campaign in the San Fernando Valley turned out to be surprisingly flabby. The Valley constitutes at least 40% of the L.A. vote, and Richard Riordan finished far ahead of Woo there, even though Woo had represented part of the area. If he gets beaten in the Valley, Woo most likely will lose the election.

Riordan overwhelmed Woo in the Valley's heaviest voting areas. In the West Valley City Council district represented by Joy Picus, Riordan polled 18,215 to 5,691 for Valley Democratic Assemblyman Richard Katz and 5,086 for Woo. In the northwest Valley's 12th District, Riordan received 23,490 to 7,237 for Katz and 5,373 for Woo.

This doesn't mean the Valley is a hopeless cause for Woo. Woo supporters are aiming for an endorsement from Katz, whose mayoral defeat hasn't ended his political career. Failure to back Woo would make him a traitor in the eyes of many Democratic activists. And he'll need their support if he runs for the Valley state Senate seat to be vacated by David Roberti, a term limit victim.