Three weeks from this coming Tuesday is Election Day, and soon all the politicians, prognosticators, pundits, and pollsters will be able to thump their chests or lick their wounds as we find out whether the Democrats will be able to wrestle control of one or both of the houses of Congress from the Republicans.

A few weeks ago, I mentioned five key areas to keep a close eye on: the President’s approval rating, which, according to Scott Rasmussen, generally continue to hover somewhere in the low-to mid-40s, gas prices, which continue to remain at lows not seen for a long time, the economy, which, by any measure continues to roll along spectacularly (not that you’d know if you only got your news from the mainstream dino-media), Iraq, which continues to be a mess, and Republican get-out-the-vote efforts which are poised to unleash the hounds in their effort to leave no stone unturned to get Republicans to the polls and vote.

In these final weeks, I’ll be keeping a close tab on things through daily stops along the blogsphere at the following sites;

* My current fave is Wizbang Politics, featuring Lorie Byrd, Alexander McClure and DJ Drummond, formerly of Polipundit. Sure, they have solid conservative credentials, but they’re all articulate and not prone to buying into the common wisdom out there.

* Captains Quarters and Power Line are long-time favorites and have the political scene in the crucial (for both Dems and Republicans) state of Minnesota covered like a glove.

* Real Clear Politics, which covers politics from every angle you can think of. John McIntyre’s and Tom Bevin’s blog is especially interesting if you’re into politics, regardless of your stripe.

* Polipundit seems to have recovered nicely from the loss of Alexander, D.J., and Lorie earlier this year and worked out the kinks through its new roster of solid conservative contributors.

* National Review Online is one of my daily musts, although I often find their perspectives reflect a “beltway mentality” that sometimes torks me off. But that’s OK, the roster of contributors they boast for their Corner and Sixers blogs are always an interesting, and sometimes eclectic, read.

* As NRO is for conservatives, the New Republic Online is for those of the liberal persuasion. Their Plank blog, just across the political aisle from NRO’s Corner blog, is a great read.

* Last but not least, my favorite blogger hands down is Jim Geraghty – “TKS” of National Review Online. I love the way he writes, his new book “Voting To Kill: How 9/11 Launched the Era of Republican Leadership” is a fascinating read regardless of your political stripe, and Geraghty always manages to find sources that dig below the dirt of the Republican GOTV effort. No matter what the guy writes on, it’s fascinating and well done.

Hang on to your hats, folks – the political stakes are high, and the next three weeks promise to be riveting.