Do the polls really matter that have Obama leading?

How could these polls possible matter at all? They reflect the popular vote and as every Republican knows, the electoral college decides the election. New York and California almost always vote blue and this is reflected in the popular vote. In fact, McCain/Palin appear to be in cruise control when it comes to the upper hand in the electoral college and the battleground states are putting a bigger smile on the good guys (Republicans) faces as each day pes. Why have these polls at all other than to make it appear in the liberal media that Obama is doing well? Is the liberal media trying to use the polls as another bubblegum tool to try and prevent the Republican tide from crashing through the wall of Obama supporters?