There's been a lot of speculation that Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC's "Hardball" is mulling a run against Pennsylvania Republican Arlen Specter in 2010. The blog FiveThirtyEight reported Friday that Matthews was "staffing up" and was likely to run. Matthews quickly denied it. The Harrisburg Patriot-News said today that Matthews "isn't ready to say he's running for the U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania, but he continues to talk with top Democrats about the possibility," including Democratic State Committee Chairman T.J. Rooney and executive director Mary Isenhour.

Matthews, who once ran unsuccessfully for Congress in Pennsylvania, started all this speculation himself in April when he said "I want to be a Senator."

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.

First-term Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss has widened his lead over Democratic challenger James Martin), a former state representative, in their Dec. 2 runoff battle, according to a survey conducted Nov. 22-23 by Public Policy Polling. 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.

Chambliss is now leading Martin 53 percent to 41 percent with 2 percent undecided in the PPP survey. The margin of error is 3.3 percent.

PPP says that Martin has benefited earlier from larger turnout among young generated by Barack Obama who may not come out just to vote for Martin. In its pre-election Oct. 31 - Nov. 2 poll, PPP put the size of the 17-to-29 sample at 17 percent, compared to 12 percent in the new survey. The size of the sample of voters over 65 in the new survey is 20 percent compared to 15 percent before Election Day. The younger voters favor Martin by 8 points while those over 65 back Chambliss by a 38 point margin.

Back last April, Chris Matthews, the host of MSNBC's "Hardball" started speculation that he might run for Senate in Pennsylvania in 2010 against Republican incumbent Arlen Specter. Matthews said on The Colbert Show (about 4 1/2 minutes into his appearance), "Did you ever want to be something your whole life, besides this? When you grow up, some kids want to be a fireman. I want to be a Senator." And, in fact, Matthews once did try to run for Congress in Pennsylvania in 1974 and lost in the Democratic primary.

Now, Public Pollicy Polling says a survey of Pennsylvanians it conducted Oct. 31 - Nov. 2 gives Matthews a fighting chance. Specter leads 40 percent to 27 percent with an understandably large (at this point) 33 percent undecided. At this early stage, Matthews confronts the problem of bolstering Democratic support behind a potential canddidacy, since 35 percent of Democrats say they would support him and 30 percent say they would support Specter. Specter's own support among Republicans is higher than that of Matthews among Democrats, but at 50 percent for an iincumbent, it leaves something to be desired.

"Arlen Specter would definitely start out as the favorite if Chris Matthews challenged him," said PPP's Dean Debnam. "But this poll provides clear evidence that a Matthews candidacy is not a non-starter."

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.

Here are our latest updates from yesterday and today on Senate races around the country from Nov.1 and Oct. 31. Today's addition is the Main race between Republican incumbent Susan Collins and Rep. Tom Allen.

• Alaska: Begich 49.3, Stevens 42. (Hays Research); Begich 58, Stevens 36. (Research 2000)
• Colorado:Udall 53, Schaffer 43. (CNN/Time/Opinion Research)
• Georgia.: Chambliss 48, Martin 46, Buckley 4. (Public Policy Polling); Chambliss 48, Martin 44, Buckley 5. (SurveyUSA); Chambliss 47, Martin 46, Buckley 5. (Research 2000); Chambliss 53, Martin 43. (CNN/Time/Opinion Research); Chambliss 48, Merkley 43. (Rasmussen)
• Kentucky: McConnell 53, Lunsford 45. (SurveyUSA); McConnell 47, Lunsford 44. (Research 2000); McConnell 51, Lunsford 44. (Rasmussen)
• Maine: Collins 57, Allen 41. (Rasmussen)
• Michigan: Levin 58, Hoogendyk 36. (Public Policy Polling)
• Minnesota: Coleman 44, Franken 39, Barkley 16. (SurveyUSA); Coleman 43, Franken 40, Barkley 15. (Research 2000); Franken 45, Coleman 40, Barkley 14. (Public Policy Polling); Franken 41, Coleman 37, Barkley 17. (MPR/Humphrey Institute)
• New Hampshire: Shaheen 48, Sununu 42. (WMUR/UNH); Shaheen 53, Sununu 40. (SurveyUSA); Shaheen 52, Sununu 42, Blevens 2. (Research 2000); Shaheen 52, Sununu 44. (Rasmussen)
• New Jersey: Lautenberg 52, Zimmer 37. (SurveyUSA)
• New Mexico: Udall 58, Pearce 39. (Public Policy Polling); Udall 56, Pearce 41. (Rasmussen)
• North Carolina: Hagan 51, Dole 44, Cole 3. (Public Policy Polling); Hagan 44, Dole 37. (Elon University); Hagan 53, Dole 44. (CNN/Time/Opinion Research)
• Oregon: Merkley 48, Smith 42. (Research 2000); Merkley 51, Smith 43, Brownlow 4. (Public Policy Polling); Merkley 49, Smith 46. (Rasmussen)
• Virginia: Warner 59, Gilmore 35. (SurveyUSA); Warner 63, Gilmore 35. (CNN/Time/Opinion Research)
• West Virginia: Rockefeller 58, Wolfe 40. (Public Policy Polling)
• Wyoming: Barasso, 60, Carter 35. (Research 2000)
• Wyoming: Enzi 62, Rothfuss 35. (Research 2000)

Also, to check on our race ratings for all Senate contests, go to our Races to Watch page.

Here are our latest updates on Senate races around the country. CQ Politics is changing its rating on the Mississippi race, where Republican Roger Wicker, who was appointed to fill out Trent Lott's term, is seeking re-election from "No Clear Favorite" to "Leans Republican." In the Georgia contest between first term Republican Saxby Chambliss and Democrat Jim Martin, we are changing that rating from "Leans Republican" to "No Clear Favorite."

• Alaska: Begich 58, Stevens 36. (Research 2000)
• Colorado:Udall 53, Schaffer 43. (CNN/Time/Opinion Research)
• Georgia.: Chambliss 47, Martin 46, Buckley 5. (Research 2000); Chambliss 53, Martin 43. (CNN/Time/Opinion Research); Chambliss 48, Merkley 43. (Rasmussen)
• Kentucky: McConnell 51, Lunsford 44. (Rasmussen)
• Michigan: Levin 58, Hoogendyk 36. (Public Policy Polling)
• Minnesota: Franken 45, Coleman 40, Barkley 14. (Public Policy Polling); Franken 41, Coleman 37, Barkley 17. (MPR/Humphrey Institute)
• New Hampshire: Shaheen 53, Sununu 40. (SurveyUSA); Shaheen 52, Sununu 42, Blevens 2. (Research 2000); Shaheen 52, Sununu 44. (Rasmussen)
• New Jersey: Lautenberg 52, Zimmer 37. (SurveyUSA)
• New Mexico: Udall 58, Pearce 39. (Public Policy Polling); Udall 56, Pearce 41. (Rasmussen)
• North Carolina: Hagan 44, Dole 37. (Elon University); Hagan 53, Dole 44. (CNN/Time/Opinion Research)
• Oregon: Merkley 51, Smith 43, Brownlow 4. (Public Policy Polling); Merkley 49, Smith 46. (Rasmussen)
• Virginia: Warner 63, Gilmore 35. (CNN/Time/Opinion Research)
• West Virginia: Rockefeller 58, Wolfe 40. (Public Policy Polling)

Also, to check on our race ratings for all Senate contests, go to our Races to Watch page.

Here is our latest update on Senate races around the country.

• New Hampshire: Shaheen 49, Sununu 38. (WMUR/UNH)
• North Carolina: Hagan 48, Dole 45, Cole 4. (Public Policy Polling)
• Oregon: Merkley 49, Smith 42, Brownlow 5. (SurveyUSA)
• Virginia: Warner 61, Gilmore 31. (Washington Post/ABC News); Warner 63, Gilmore 32. (SurveyUSA)

Also, to check on our race ratings for all Senate contests, go to our Races to Watch page.

Here are the states we updated yesterday and today in our match-ups between John McCain and Barack Obama:

• Arkansas: McCain 52, Obama 41. (Research 2000)
• Colorado: Obama 52, McCain 40. (Rocky Mountain News/CBS4)
• Iowa: Obama 53, McCain 44. (Rasmussen); Obama 54, McCain 39. (Research 2000)
• Kentucky: McCain 55, Obama 39. (Research 2000)
• New Hampshire: Obama 50, McCain 46. (Rasmussen); Obama 54, McCain 39. (Boston Globe)
• Ohio: Obama 49, McCain 46. (Ohio Newspaper Poll); Obama 51, McCain 44. (Public Policy Polling)
• Pennsylvania: Obama 52, McCain 41. (Muhlenberg)
• South Dakota: McCain 50, Obama 41. (Research 2000)
• Tennessee: McCain 54, Obama 38. (Research 2000)
• Virginia: Obama 52, McCain 43. (Public Policy Polling)
• Wisconsin: Obama 51, McCain 44. (Rasmussen)

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.

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

• Colorado: Obama 51, McCain 46. (Fox News/Rasmussen)
• Florida: McCain 49, Obama 48. (Fox News/Rasmussen); Obama 48, McCain 47. (Public Policy Polling)
• Illinois: Obama 56, McCain 32. (Chicago Tribune).
• Indiana: Obama 48, McCain 46. (Public Policy Polling)
• Kentucky: McCain 54, Obama 41. (SurveyUSA)
• Missouri: Obama 49, McCain 44. (Fox News/Rasmussen)
• New Jersey: Obama 54, McCain 39. (Monmouth/Gannett); Obama 59, McCain 36. (Quinnipiac)
• North Carolina: Obama 51, McCain 48. (Fox News/Rasmussen); Obama 48, McCain 45. (Civitas).
• Ohio: McCain 49, Obama 47. (Fox News/Rasmussen)
• Oklahoma: McCain 59, Obama 35. (SurveyUSA)
• Pennsylvania: Obama 53, McCain 41. (Muhlenberg)
• Wisconsin: Obama 51, McCain 43. (SurveyUSA)
• Wyoming: McCain 58, Obama 37. (SurveyUSA)

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.