How to Watch Tonight's Returns

Here are two good guides on how to watch tonight's returns from two veterans -- Tom Edsall at the Huffington Post and Michael Barone, co-author of the Almanac of American Politics.

We'll be blogging it regularly too. But to save yourself some time, here's what to look for early on:

EARLY CLOSERS -- 6PM -- KENTUCKY AND INDIANA: Obama is surprisingly close in Indiana. If it's too close too call, it's a good sign for him. If he wins it, it's over. If he loses, no matter.

NEXT CLOSERS -- 7PM -- VIRGINIA, NEW HAMPSHIRE AND GEORGIA, AMONG OTHERS: If Georgia is too close to call, it's another good sign for Obama. But Virginia and New Hampshire are the key. If Virginia is called for Obama, it's just about over. If it's called for McCain, he's doing unexpectedly well -- though a victory is not assured. If it's too close to call, McCain is in better shape than anticipated and it could be a longer night than many Obama partisans had hoped.

We'll be on it throughout the night.