There were two big releases of polls today focusing on key states. The Big Ten Battle Ground Poll showed Barack Obama with significant leads over John McCain in eight Midwest states. A Quinnipiac University Swing State Poll showed Obama riding a surge of support based on the belief he would better handle the economy. Quinnipiac said, "With 12 days to go, Sen. McCain is narrowing the gap in Florida, but fading in Ohio and barely denting Sen. Obama's double-digit lead in Pennsylvania."

Also interesting to note that a new poll has Obama moving ahead in Montana, which went Republican in each of the last five elections except in 1992 when Ross Perot's independent candidacy siphoned off votes from the first President Bush. CQ Politics is changing its rating of Montana from "Leans Republican" to "No Clear Favorite." We are also moving Indiana from "Leans Republican" to "No Clear Favorite," Ohio from "No Clear Favorite" back to "Leans Democratic," and North Dakota from "Leans Republican" to "No Clear Favorite."

Here are the states we're updating today in our round-up of general election match-ups: between John McCain and Barack Obama:

• Arkansas: McCain 49, Obama 36. (University of Arkansas)
• California: Obama 56, McCain 33. (PPIC)
• Florida: Obama 49, McCain 44. (Quinnipiac); Obama 49, McCain 42. (St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald)
• Illinois: Obama 61, McCain 32. (Big Ten)
• Indiana: Obama 51, McCain 41. (Big Ten)
• Iowa: Obama 53, McCain 39. (Big Ten)
• Kansas: McCain 53, Obama 41. (SurveyUSA)
• Maine: Obama 56, McCain 35. (Critical Insights)
• Montana; Obama 44.4, McCain 40.2. (Montana State University)
• Ohio: Obama 52, McCain 38. (Quinnipiac); Obama 53, McCain 41. (Big Ten)
• Pennsylvania: Obama 53, McCain 40. (Quinnipiac); Obama 52, McCain 41. (Big Ten); Obama 53, McCain 41. (SurveyUSA)
• Texas: McCain 54, Obama 44. (Rasmussen)
• West Virginia: McCain 49.2, Obama 43.5. (Wesleyan College)
• Wisconsin: Obama 53, McCain 40. (Big Ten).

We'll be updating the longer state summaries below as the day goes on.

Also, check out CQ Politics Presidential election maps which give you four different ways to look at the race, including one that lets you build your own electoral scenario.

Our latest round-up of match-ups between Barack Obama and John McCain updates Florida, Colorado, New Mexico, Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana, New Hampshire, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Illinois, New Hampshire, Georgia, New Jersey, Connecticut and Ohio. One series of polls that stood out was a new "Big Ten Battleground Poll" co-directed by University of Wisconsin-Madison political scientists. Of six states they surveyed, McCain and Obama were exactly tied or statistically tied in five: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, Iowa and Pennsylvania with only Obama's home state of Illinois being non-competitive. Some of these were also among the 33 updates we posted yesterday. Also, check out CQ Politics' election forecasts for detailed stories on races in each state from the tops of the tickets down. Also go to our Presidential Election Maps to see our calls and use our Scenario Builder to make your own.