Today marks 14 weeks until Election Day, when 37 of the nation's governorships, 36 Senate seats, and all 435 House seats are at stake. With unemployment over 9 percent, and the country in the midst of a slow and painful recovery, the wind is at the backs of Republicans. Most analysts believe the GOP could gain the 39 seats required to take back the House, but that it faces much longer odds netting the 10 seats needed for a Senate majority. 

Democrats have amassed a large war chest, but are using it almost exclusively to protect incumbents, rather than to target open seats or defeat sitting Republicans. They're hoping that economic stimulus and new health care programs will prove attractive to the electorate -- but swing voters today see many costs and few benefits. Here are 10 key races that capture the themes of the midterm elections.