Tonight's Schedule: Which States are Closing When and What's Important to Watch

We are, oddly enough, just a few minutes away from some states wrapping up voting for the day. It's probably a good time to talk a little about tonight's schedule.

At 6 p.m. eastern, the polls will close in Indiana and Kentucky.

For the past couple of election cycles, these two are called by the networks almost immediately, and are considered reliably Republican states. Tonight, Indiana may prove to be more interesting, with polls showing a close contest. Obama wouldn't necessarily need Indiana to get to 270, but if he wins the state's 11 electoral votes, it will reinforce the notion that McCain is in for a long night. (Also note, there are parts of Indiana, most notably Gary, where the polls won't close until 7 p.m. eastern.)

At 7 p.m. eastern, the polls will close in most of Florida, most of New Hampshire, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, and Vermont.

Obviously, there are some key electoral prizes here. If McCain loses Virginia, his paths to 270 shrink considerably. If McCain loses Florida, his chances all but disappear. Also, keep an eye on Georgia, where turnout has been amazing.