For Democrat Phil Angelides, trailing in the polls and his campaign unable to gain much traction, the baseball playoff situation doesn't offer much hope of getting Californians to tune into the governor's race in October. If the season ended today, three California teams -- one in each major market -- would advance to the playoffs.

Fans of the Padres, Dodgers and A's will preoccupied with other things. And, as Angelides' luck would have it, the sole debate of the campaign season will take place on Oct. 7 -- directly up against a baseball playoff game.