While the race for the White House is significant, there are those, including myself, who believe that the control of the U.S. House and Senate has more profound implications than ever before.

I’ve already written extensively about Speaker of the House Paul Ryan’s “A Better Way” governing principles that he intends to continue to implement should he and the GOP retain control of the U.S. House.

To the extent that polls show any accuracy in this day and age, it is not likely that Democrats will succeed in securing the necessary number of seats they need to flip control of the body.

And, hopes that Democrats had that a blowout at the top of the Presidential election would have them reaping substantial down ballot benefits have become the wistful musings of the early summer.

Throughout the country, Americans have appreciated the leadership of Ryan, and the efforts of the House GOP, in not just blocking the overreach of the current occupant of the White House – but in laying out a series of important conservative principles for the country that will serve us well into the future.

From lower taxes, securing our borders, an assertive foreign policy that protects America and its allies at home and abroad, replacing ObamaCare with sound health care reform and offering hope to those living in poverty, Ryan and his conservative caucus are ready to lead America forward.

While the outcome for control of the House should cheer Americans hungry for commonsense conservative leadership, the battle for the control of the U.S. Senate is less certain.

Currently, Democrats need to win four seats to regain control of the U.S. Senate.

Throughout the summer it looked as though the odds of picking up those four seats were pretty favorable for Democrats.

However, as the Presidential race has tightened, there appears to be some positive change in the fortunes of the GOP Senate.

To be sure the control of the U.S. Senate is far from determined. But, as the Washington Post headline from barely two weeks ago makes clear “Senate GOPers odds of holding majority suddenly look better than they have all year,” it will be a dogfight throughout the remaining weeks of the campaign.

In places like Wisconsin and Illinois, GOP incumbents have their hands full.  The return of the one of the most liberal politicians in Wisconsin, Russ Feingold, is, in and of itself, an endorsement of why holding onto control of the Senate by the GOP is vital.

If Feingold is successful, he will join the likes of Al Franken, Tammy Baldwin and Elizabeth Warren as radical liberal voices prepared to further broaden and expand the power and influence of the federal government, while weakening individual freedoms and liberties of Americans.

In other places like Indiana, Pennsylvania, Nevada, North Carolina, New Hampshire and Missouri, there’s a critical need for conservatives to understand the implications of Democrat success in these races.

For conservatives there can be little question that incumbents Burr, Ayotte, Blunt and Toomey are far more preferable than their liberal Democratic opponents.

Allowing four more liberal Democrats into the Senate, to be led by Chuck Schumer, will have no upside for the American economy, our nation’s foreign policy, efforts to secure our national borders and the ever more urgent global war on terror

Harry Reid, followed closely by Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama, has been one of the most divisive, dysfunctional and poisonous political leaders in the modern era.

Replacing Reid with Chuck Schumer is nothing more than putting lipstick on a pig.

Schumer may not be as dour in front of the television cameras as Harry Reid, but he is just as committed to expanding a liberal agenda that will be catastrophic for our country.

As important as it is to return conservative incumbents to the Senate, there is a critical need to bring new conservatives from Indiana and Nevada into the Senate, as well, to offer further protection against runaway government in America.

With the general election in full swing, and the American public beginning to focus on campaigns other than the race for the White House, control of Congress will become more of a focal point.

With a growing footprint of ISIS-inspired terror attacks and a President and his party committed to explaining away the evil acts that are taking place in every corner of our country, there is a critical need for a Congress that is prepared to have a more robust role in defending the nation.

The impending collapse of ObamaCare, an economy that’s still gasping and an anemic job market will not heal itself with a liberal takeover of the U.S. Senate.

With weeks to go before Election Day, there is still time for Democrats to gain momentum in their effort to reclaim majority control of the U.S. Senate.

More work and effort is required to solidify gains that conservative candidates have made in recent days.  Control of the House may be assured, but control of the Senate is still very much in question.

Conservatives going to the polls, not Democrats or a down-ballot impact of a presidential race, will dictate the outcome of control of Congress.