The Democratic presidential candidates are making some attempt to campaign in California despite the overwhelming cost of reaching voters in the nation's largest state. But it is noteworthy that none of the three contenders chose to write a check to have his or her name put on slate mailers that are such a vital part of lower-profile campaigns in California.

The "Voter Information Guide for Democrats" showed up in my house last week, addressed to my wife (I'm a decline-to-state voter), with official-looking recommendations on all the ballot propositions: Yes on 92, Yes on 93, No on 94, 95, 96 and 97. All those recommendations, of course, are accompanied by a small asterisk, meaning that campaigns paid handsomely to have their position represented as the official, learned position of the Voter Information Guide.

As for the top of ticket? The slate mailer includes photographs of Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards, with the notation: "Vote for the Democrat of your choice in the primary election and then rally around the winner in November."

Translation: All three declined to pay their way onto the mailer.