In the great state of Ohio, early voting in the presidential election is set to begin on September 30. (No, not a typo: September 30. Exactly two weeks from today.)

In light of that fact, and in light of the fact that, “while the national electoral terrain appears to be broader than it was in 2004 with once reliably Republican states like Virginia up for grabs, there is no place more likely to be in the bull’s-eye than the Buckeye State,” Salon’s Walter Shapiro takes a detailed look at the political climate in the state. Well worth a read.