Presidential race buffets fight for Senate control

US President Barack Obama and Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney debate on October 16, 2012 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. Undecided voters asked questions during a town hall format. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (AP) - The party that runs the Senate next year may well depend on how well President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney do in toss-up states like Nevada, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Each of those states has Senate races that are about as tight as the presidential contests there. In each, the Senate rivals are hoping for help from their party's presidential campaigns, such as Obama's efforts to register Hispanics in Nevada and joint GOP offices for the presidential and Senate campaigns in Virginia.

Democrats hold a 53-47 Senate edge but Republicans have a chance to capture a majority - particularly if Romney does well on Election Day.

In the House, both parties are also hoping for presidential coattails. Democrats will need to gain 25 seats to take over, which seems unlikely.

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