As we move closer to the major party conventions at the end of this month, attention seems to be turning to three major things: 1) VP candidates; 2) whether the economy or the war will be the defining issue of the election; and 3) where the election will be fought and won.

I’ve written about the VP candidates on several occassions.  As I’ve said before, I think Joe Biden would be a strong pick for Barack Obama and that Mitt Romney, like him or not, has lots of advantages for John McCain.

This morning on The Chris Matthews Show, Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post said the economy was going to be defining issue of the campaign.  With the recent announcement of the country’s unemployment numbers, the economy, Robinson opined, is going to get worse.  That’s likely to impact the VP pick, of course.

Also on the show, Gloria Borger of US News and World Report said that the key battlegrounds would be Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada.  Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post offers his analysis on the battlegounds: 1) Iowa, 2) Nevada, 3) New Mexico, 4) New Hampshire, 5) Michigan, 6) Ohio, 7) Colorado, Virginia, 9) Pennsylvania, 10) Florida.

Here are some comments I made on the 08 electoral map a few weeks back.  I gave Obama the advantage in Iowa, Colorado, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and New Mexico.  McCain maintains the advantage in Ohio, Nevada and Florida.  Overall, Obama’s ahead in the fight for the battleground states . . . today.