Here are today's updates in our match-ups between John McCain and Barack Obama:

• Alaska: McCain 57, Obama 41. (Rasmussen)
• Arizona: McCain 46, Obama 44. (Cronkite/Eight)
• Colorado: Obama 53, McCain 45. (CNN/Time); Obama 50, McCain 41. (AP/GfK)
• Florida: Obama 51, McCain 47. (CNN/Time); Obama 47, McCain 45. (Quinnipiac); Obama 45, McCain 43. (AP/GfK)
• Georgia: McCain 52, Obama 47. (CNN/Time)
• Indiana: McCain 47, Obama 45. (Howey/Gauge)
• Michigan: Obama 53, McCain 43. (Rasmussen)
• Minnesota: Obama 55, McCain 43. (Rasmussen)
• Missouri: McCain 50, Obama 48. (CNN/Time)
• New Hampshire: Obama 58, McCain 34. (WMUR/UNH)Obama 55, McCain 37. (AP/GfK)
• Nevada: Obama 52, McCain 40. (AP/GfK)
• North Carolina: Obama 48, McCain 46. (AP/GfK)
• Ohio: Obama 46, McCain 43. (Marist); Obama 51, McCain 42. (Quinnipiac); Obama 48, McCain 41. (AP/GfK)
• Pennsylvania: Obama 52, McCain 39. (Marist); Obama 53, McCain 41. (Quinnipiac); Obama 52, McCain 40. (AP/GfK); Obama 51, McCain 39. (Franklin & Marshall)
• Virginia: Obama 53, McCain 44. (CNN/Time); Obama 49, McCain 42. (AP/GfK)
• Washington: Obama 56, McCain 39. (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.

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.

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.

Here are today's updated polls in our round-up of Senate races:

• Kentucky: McConnell 48, Lunsford 48. (SurveyUSA)
• New Jersey: Lautenberg 55, Zimmer 33. (Quinnipiac)
• North Carolina: Hagan 44, Dole 41, Cole 4. (Civitas)

To keep up with our race ratings, you can also go to our Senate Races to Watch page.

Barack Obama has statistically significant leads over John McCain in four daily tracking polls today.

Gallup: Obama 50, McCain 42.

Diageo/Hotline: Obama 48, McCain 41.

Rasmussen Reports: Obama 51, McCain 45.

Research 2000: Obama 52, McCain 40.

Today we update Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Mississippi, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Virginia and Oklahoma in our round-up of state-by-state general election match-ups between Barack Obama and John McCain. One set of the new polls is Quinnipiac University's swing state surveys of Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania which like the AP-GfK and Pew Research Center surveys we posted earlier show Obama benefiting from the first presidential debate, greater voter trust in him on the economy and falling favorability ratings of Sarah Palin.

Obama also gained significant ground in polls conducted in five battleground states in a CNN/Time Magazine/Opinion Research poll released today. CNN polling director Keating Holland said, "Obama has gained ground among moderates in all five states." He added, That may have something to do with the first presidential debate. Some commentators knocked Obama for agreeing with McCain as often as he did, but moderates tend to like it when candidates appear willing to see the other side's point of view." The states were Florida, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada and Virginia.