First-term Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss holds a 52 percent to 46 percent lead over Democratic challenger James Martin), a former state representative, in their Dec. 2 runoff battle, according to a Research 2000 survey conducted Nov. 23-25. Two percent are undecided and the margin of error is 4 points.

Research 2000 makes the same observation that Public Policy Polling did in its Nov. 22-23 poll: that Chambliss has been able to widen his lead because, this time around, Barack Obama is not on the ballot to lure a larger turnout. PPP had Chambliss leading Martin 53 percent to 41 percent.

An InsiderAdvantage/Politico poll conducted Nov. 23 had Chambliss ahead 50 percent to 47 percent with 3 percent undecided.

"This thing's going to be a nail-biter. We don't know who's going to turn out and we don't know how it's going to turn out, but it's going to be a close race," said InsiderAdvantage CEO Matt Towery.

The runoff was forced when Chambliss fell short of the 50 percent needed to win out right, beating Martin 49.8 percent to 46.8 percent with 3.4 percent for Libertarian Allen Buckley. Georgia and Minnesota, where a recount is going on, are the last two chances Democrats have to reach the magic number of 60 in the Senate, which is enough votes to break a filibuster.

Here are updates that include polls published Friday through today in our round-up of match-ups between John McCain and Barack Obama. Also, we have changed several race ratings:

• Arkansas from "Leans Republican" to "Republican Favored."
• Arizona from "Republican Favored" to "Leans Republican."
• Connecticut from "Democrat Favored" to "Safe Democrat."
• Georgia from "Republican Favored to "Leans Republican."
• New Hampshire from "Leans Democrat" to Democrat Favored."

• New Mexico from "Leans Democrat" to "Democrat Favored."

  • North Dakota from "Leans Republican" to "No Clear Favorite."
  • Oregon from "Leans Democratic" to "Safe Democratic."

  • Washington State from "Leans Democratic" to "Safe Democratic."

  • Alaska: McCain 46.6, Obama 43.9. (Hays Research); McCain 58, Obama 39. (Research 2000)

  • Arkansas: McCain 51, Obama 44. (ARG)
  • Colorado: Obama 49, McCain 44. (NBC News/Mason-Dixon); Obama 54, McCain 44. (Public Policy Polling)
  • Florida: Obama 49.2, McCain 48. (Zogby);Obama 50, McCain 48. (Public Policy Polling); Obama 47, McCain 45. (Quinnipiac); Obama 47, McCain 45. (Mason-Dixon); Obama 50, McCain 46. (ARG)
  • Georgia: McCain 50, Obama 48. (Public Policy Polling); McCain 52, Obama 45. (SurveyUSA); McCain 47, Obama 44. (Research 2000); McCain 52, Obama 47. (Rasmussen)
  • Illinois: Obama 60, McCain 38. (Rasmussen)
  • Indiana: McCain 50.4, Obama 45.1. (Zogby); Obama 49, McCain 48. (Public Policy Polling); McCain 48, Obama 48. (ARG); McCain 47, Obama 47. (SurveyUSA)
  • Iowa: Obama 54, McCain 37. (Des Moines Register); Obama 55, McCain 40. (SurveyUSA)
  • Kentucky: McCain 56, Obama 40. (SurveyUSA); McCain 56, Obama 39. (Research 2000)
  • Maine: Obama 56, McCain 43. (Rasmussen)
  • Michigan: Obama 55, McCain 42. (Public Policy Polling); Obama 50, McCain 38. (EPIC -MRA)
  • Minnesota: Obama 49, McCain 46. (SurveyUSA); Obama 53, McCain 38. (Research 2000); Obama 57, McCain 41. (Public Policy Polling)
  • Missouri: Obama 48.8, McCain 48.8. (Zogby); Obama 49.4, McCain 48.6. (Public Policy Polling); McCain 48, Obama 48. (SurveyUSA)McCain 47, Obama 46. (NBC News/Mason-Dixon); McCain 50, Obama 47. (InsiderAdvantage/Politico)
  • Montana: Obama 48, McCain 47, Paul 4. (Public Policy Polling); McCain 48, Obama 44. (Research 2000)
  • Nevada: Obama 53.2, McCain 42.4. (Zogby); Obama 51, McCain 47. (Public Policy Polling); Obama 47, McCain 43. (NBC News/Mason-Dixon)
  • New Hampshire: Obama 53, McCain 42. (WMUR/UNH); Obama 53, McCain 42. (SurveyUSA); Obama 50, McCain 41. (Strategic Vision); Obama 51, McCain 44. (Research 2000); Obama 51, McCain 44. (Rasmussen)
  • New Mexico: Obama 58, McCain 41. (Public Policy Polling)
  • North Carolina: McCain 49.5, Obama 49.1. (Zogby); Obama 50, McCain 49. (Public Policy Polling); McCain 49, Obama 46. (NBC News/Mason-Dixon); Obama 48, McCain 48. (InsiderAdvantage/Politico); Obama 45, McCain 38. (Elon University)
  • Ohio: Obama 49.4, McCain 47.4. (Zogby); Obama 48, McCain 46. (SurveyUSA); Obama 51.5, McCain 45.7. (University of Cincinnati); (Obama 50, McCain 43. Quinnipiac); Obama 50, McCain 48. (Public Policy Polling); Obama 52, McCain 46. (Columbus Dispatch); McCain 47, Obama 45. (NBC News/Mason-Dixon)
  • Oregon : Obama 54, McCain 42. (Rasmussen); Obama 55, McCain 39. (Research 2000). Obama 57, McCain 42. (Public Policy Polling)
  • Pennsylvania: Obama 52, McCain 43. (SurveyUSA); Obama 51.2, McCain 41.4 (Zogby); Obama 51, McCain 44. (Strategic Vision); Obama 52, McCain 42. (Quinnipiac); Obama 53, McCain 45. (Public Policy Polling); Obama 52, McCain 44. (Muhlenberg); Obama 51, McCain 45. (ARG); Obama 51, McCain 47. (Rasmussen)
  • South Carolina: McCain 52, Obama 44. (SurveyUSA)
  • South Dakota: McCain 53, Obama 44. (Rasmussen)
  • Virginia: Obama 51.7, McCain 45.3 (Zogby); Obama 50, McCain 46. (SurveyUSA); Obama 47, McCain 44. (NBC News/Mason-Dixon).
  • Washington State: Obama 55, McCain 40. (Strategic Vision)
  • West Virginia: McCain 55, Obama 42. (Public Policy Polling)
  • Wisconsin: Obama 53, McCain 40. (Strategic Vision); Obama 55, McCain 39. (SurveyUSA).
  • Wyoming: McCain 61, Obama 36. (Research 2000)

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.

Today we update New Hampshire, Iowa, Michigan, Colorado, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Montana, Florida and Hawaii in our round-up of state-by-state general election match-ups between Barack Obama and John McCain. We are also putting three states into different categories. Indiana and North Carolina move from "Republican Favored" to "Leans Republican." And Poll Tracker sheepishly admits it got out of synch with our race ratings team, and is moving Pennsylvania from "Democrat Favored" to "Leans Democratic."

Visit our Presidential election maps which give you four different ways to look at the race, including one that lets you build your own electoral scenario.

Here's a summary of our race ratings categories. Use this link for background on how we arrive at them

• No Clear Favorite, for races that are deemed to close to call.
• Leans Democratic and Leans Republican, for highly competitive races in which the named party is perceived to have at least a slight edge, but in which an upset is a highly plausible possibility.
• Democrat Favored and Republican Favored, for races in which the named party has a clearer advantage and is likely to win, though an upset cannot be completely ruled out.
• Safe Democratic and Safe Republican, for races in which the named party is viewed as certain to win.

Our latest round-up of match-ups between Barack Obama and John McCain updates Colorado, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Maine, Georgia, Mississippi Alabama, Idaho and Wyoming. 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.

• Colorado: Obama leads McCain 49 percent to 46 percent with 1 percent choosing "other" and 4 percent undecided in an InsiderAdvantage poll conducted Sept. 10. The margin of error is 4.3 percent. A Public Policy Polling survey conducted Sept. 7-9 gave Obama a statistically insignificant edge over McCain of 47 percent to 46 percent with 7 percent. The margin of error was 3 points. McCain increased his lead among white voters from 2 to 6 points since PPP's last poll, but Obama has been able to offset that with his 58 percent to 34 percent lead among Hispanics who make up 14 percent of the sample. A Fox News/Rasmussen Reports survey conducted Sept. 7 had Obama ahead McCain 49 percent to 46 percent with 2 percent choosing Libertarian candidate Bob Barr and 2 percent. The margin of error was 4.5 percent. Obama's favorable-to-unfavorable numbers were 54 percent to 45 percent and McCain's were 61 percent to 39 percent. Voters trusted McCain more than Obama 49 percent to 44 percent. A Time/CNN/Opinion Research poll conducted Aug. 24-26. had McCain ahead 47 percent to 46 percent with 7 percent choosing neither, "other" or having no opinion. The margin of error was 4 percent. A Suffolk University poll conducted Aug. 21-24 had Obama ahead 44 percent to 39 percent with Ralph Nader and Libertarian Bob Barr drawing 2 percent each and 12 percent undecided. The margin of error was 4.6 percent. Suffolk's David Paleologos said, "Should Obama go on to win Colorado, it would almost force McCain to run the table with the remaining battleground states or lose the election." Other recent polls were tighter. McCain was in a statistical tie with Obama, leading him 47 percent to 46 percent with 5 percent undecided in a Quinnipiac University survey, but the Obama camp thinks they can make it competitive. CQ Politics' Election Forecast puts Colorado in the "No Clear Favorite" column.

Our latest round-up of state match-ups between Barack Obama and John McCain updates Florida, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Arizona and Louisiana. 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.

• Florida: One tight poll after another. McCain leads Obama 47 percent to 46 percent with 7 percent undecided in an American Research Group poll conducted Aug. 18-20. The margin of error is 4 percent. McCain has a 16 point lead among white voters while Obama leads 85 percent to 7 percent among blacks, but white voters make up 71 percent of the sample compared to black voters who comprise 13 percent. The two run just about even among Hispanic voters, who are 16 percent of the sample. A Rasmussen Reports poll conducted Aug. 18 has McCain leading 46 percent to 43 percent with 7 percent preferring other and 5 percent undecided. The margin of error was 4.5 percent. In its July poll, Obama had led McCain by 1 point and Rasmussen noted he achieved that number after spending "a reported $5 million on television advertising while McCain spent nothing." Obama's favorable to unfavorable ratio is 49 percent to 48 percent while McCain's is 51 percent to 37 percent. An InsiderAdvantage poll conducted Aug. 11 had McCain ahead 48 percent to 44 percent with 2 percent for Libertarian Bob Barr and 5 percent undecided. The margin of error was 5 points. Public Policy Polling survey conducted July 30-Aug.2 had McCain ahead 47 percent to 44 percent with 8 percent undecided. But that also was within the 3.5 percent margin of error. McCain enjoyed higher support in this poll among fellow Republicans at 84 percent than Obama does among Democrats at 76 percent. McCain led 55 percent to 36 percent among whites (67 percent of the sample), and the two were in a statistical tie among Hispanics (16 percent of the sample) with Obama ahead 48 percent to 45 percent. Obama led among blacks (14 percent of the sample) 80 percent to 15 percent. Obama had a 16 point advantage among voters under 29 (15 percent of the sample) while McCain ledby 23 points among voters over 65 (19 percent of the sample). McCain leads by 11 points among women. A SurveyUSA poll conducted Aug. 1-3 had McCain ahead 50 percent to 44 percent with 3 percent choosing "other" and 3 percent undecided. The margin of error was 3.8 percent. McCain had a 7 point lead among women. Obama leads by almost 2-to-1 among voters under 34 who made up 17 percent of the sample, but McCain leads by at least 12 points in all other age groups. McCain leads 57 percent to 38 percent among white voters (73 percent of the sample) while Obama leads 84 percent to 16 percent among blacks (11 percent) and 48 percent to 42 percent among Hispanics (13 percent). Fifty-eight percent of voters cited the economy as the top issue in the campaign and they split evenly between McCain and Obama. Iraq was named by only 8 percent and Obama led McCain there by 23 points. Republicans have carried the state in four of the last five elections including, of course, the hotly-contested outcome in 2000 where the state was awarded to George Bush by a hair. CQ Politics' Election Forecast has "No Clear Favorite here.

Today we update New Hampshire and North Carolina, where the news is not good for two Republican incumbents. Also, check out our "Senate Races to Watch" and our state-by-state election forecasts for detailed stories on races in each state from the tops of the tickets down.

• New Hampshire: Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, the former governor, leads Republican incumbent John Sununu by 51 percent to 40 percent with 3 percent choosing "other" and 6 percent undecided in a Rasmussen Reports poll conducted Aug. 19. The margin of error is 4 percent. Shaheen's favorable-to-unfavorable ratio is 55 percent to 39 percent while Sununu's is 49 percent to 44 percent. Shaheen enjoys a 25 point lead among unaffiliated voters. An American Research Group poll conducted Aug. 18-20 has Shaheen ahead of Sununu 52 percent to 42 percent with 7 percent undecided. The margin of error is 4 percent. Shaheen leads among independents by nearly 2-to-1. CQ Politics rates this race "Leans Democrat."

Today we update the key states of Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina Nevada and Florida in our match-ups between Barack Obama and John McCain. We've also updated Kansas which, predictably, is not even close.

• Pennsylvania: Obama is leading McCain 44 percent to 36 percent with 4 percent preferring other and 16 percent undecided in a Franklin & Marshall College poll conducted Aug. 4-10. The margin of error is 3.9 percent. The last time F & M polled on this, in February, McCain led by a point. Three-quarters of voters are certain about their choice and the rest still deciding. Obama's favorable-to-unfavorable ratio is 43 percent to 29 percent compared to McCain's 39 percent to 32 percent. Forty-six percent of voters said they would be concerned if McCain was elected and 50 percent said they would not. Forty-six percent cited his views on policy issues (most believe he would continue President Bush's economic and foreign policies) and 50 percent were not concerned. Fifty-one percent of voters said they would be concerned if Obama was elected , with 39 percent citing lack of experience, 30 percent citing his policy stands and 12 percent believing he was "wishy-washy" and trying to please everyone. As in most national polls, Obama tops McCain 55 percent to 32 percent for best understanding the concern of ordinary Americans while McCain wins out 60 percent to 22 percent on experience and 53 percent to 29 percent on handling the war on terrorism. Obama has a big lead among independents and women, and McCain has the edge with Protestants and fundamentalist Christians. A Quinnipiac University poll conducted July 23-29 had Obama ahead 49 percent to 42 percent with 8 percent undecided. The margin of error was 2.7 percent. In its last poll, Obama had been up by 12 points. Nineteen percent of Obama supporters say they might yet change their minds compared to 24 percent for McCain. The biggest demographic gaps include Obama's 11 point lead among women, his 91 percent to 1 percent lead among blacks and his 23 point lead among voters under 34. Quinnipiac attributes McCain's gains on Obama to his energy policy "being more in line in Pennsylvania" and Obama's continued struggle among white blue collar workers. Strategic Vision conducted a poll July 25-27 that had Obama ahead 49 percent to 40 percent with 11 percent undecided. The margin of error was 3 percent. A Rasmussen Reports poll conducted July 23 had Obama ahead 47 percent to 42 percent over McCain. The margin of error was 4 points. Four percent preferred "other" and 6 percent were undecided. Fifty-eight percent of voters viewed Obama favorably as did 61 percent for McCain. The Los Angeles Times recently had a piece on McCain's effort to make inroads in Pennsylvania by stressing his bipartisanship. This key state was won by Democrats in the last two elections, but by 4 points or less each time.

Today we update Missouri and New Jersey in our round-up of John McCain-Barack Obama match-ups around the country.

• Missouri: McCain leads Obama 47 percent to 42 percent with 6 percent preferring "other" and 5 percent undecided, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll conducted July 7. The margin of error is 4.5 percent. In Rasmussen's June 3 poll of the state, before Obama clinched the Democratic nomination, the two were running about even. McCain's favorable-to-unfavorable ratio is 58 percent to 39 percent while Obama's is 50 percent to 48 percent. Twenty-eight percent of voters believe McCain is too old to be President. On the flip-side, voters say Obama is too inexperienced by a 50 percent to 43 percent margin. Asked whether the next President's top goal in Iraq should be too bring the troops home or win the war by the end of his first term, Missourians said getting the troops home by 53 percent to 40 percent. Public Policy Polling also released a survey today, conducted July 2-5, that had McCain leading 47 percent to 44 percent with 9 percent undecided and a 3.6 percent margin of error. Republicans have won 7 of the last 10 elections here with George Bush winning by about 7 points and 3 points in 2004 and 2000, and Clinton winning by about 6 in 1996 and about 11 in 1992.

Our latest addition to general election match-ups of Barack Obama and John McCain is Rhode Island. No surprises in this state which has voted for the Democratic candidate in 8 of the last 10 presidential elections.

• Rhode Island: Obama leads McCain 55 percent to 31 percent with 5 percent choosing "other" and 9 percent undecided in a Rasmussen Reports survey conducted July 1. The margin of error is 4.5 percent. Obama is viewed favorably by 68 percent of voters compared to 52 percent for McCain. About two-thirds of voters say that bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq should be the top first-term priority for the next president while 27 percent say it should be winning the war.

Our latest addition is Louisiana where, in the last 10 presidential elections, Democrats have won only when fielding southerners Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter. In 1968, former Alabama Sen. George Wallace carried the state in his independent run.

• Louisiana: John McCain is leading Barack Obama 52.2 percent to 35.5 percent with 12.3 percent undecided in a Southern Media & Opinion Research poll conducted June 26-28. The margin of error is 4 points. McCain is viewed favorably by 57.4 percent of voters and unfavorably by 38.3 percent. Obama is viewed unfavorably by 52.5 percent and favorably by 43 percent.