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If Republicans win the Senate, the Pentagon should brace for constant grilling from Sen. John McCain, who has found fault with nearly every aspect of President Barack Obama's national security policies.

McCain would be on tap to serve as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee if the GOP wrests majority control from the Democrats in next month's midterm elections. The senator who lost to Obama in the 2008 presidential election has never suffered fools or equivocating witnesses gladly, and he would be certain to use his new perch for tough questioning about Iraq, Syria, Iran, Afghanistan and military spending.

A Republican majority would usher in major changes in committee leadership, with political opposites replacing the current Democratic chairmen and setting a markedly different agenda from the past eight years of Democratic control. The size of a Republican majority would determine committee ratios and budgets; more seats in the Senate translate into a greater advantage on the panels.

Obama, the former Illinois senator, knows what it will mean for the last two years of his presidency.

"If we lose the Senate, for one thing, the way this Senate's been operating, they could end up blocking all my appointments so that I can't get the people I want to be in a position to move my agenda forward," he said in an interview last week on the "Rickey Smiley Morning Show." ''If we lose the Senate, I guarantee you they're going to try to roll back health care legislation again."

The new committees would be filled in January or February. Here's a look at the likely chairmen of the major panels:

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ARMED SERVICES: McCain stepped down after his six years as the ranking member, yielding the job to Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe. The Arizona lawmaker has made it clear that if Republicans win the Senate, he would pursue the chairmanship under GOP rules that allow a senator to serve as chairman for six years despite hitting the six-year limit as ranking member. McCain has widely criticized the administration as weak and ineffective in countering threats overseas and favors far more aggressive policies. Democratic Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan has led the panel and is retiring from the Senate after six terms.

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APPROPRIATIONS: Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran, who turns 77 in December, would likely helm the committee that crafts the 13 spending bills to fund government agencies and departments, replacing Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland. Kentucky's Mitch McConnell, the Republican who would become majority leader, has made it clear that the GOP would attach provisions to the spending bills, known as riders, to challenge Obama's policies. McConnell has said the so-called riders would deal with the health care law, financial services and the Environmental Protection Agency.

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A Republican Senate means changing the chairmen

Republican gubernatorial hopeful Neel Kashkari took a break from throwing political jabs to throw some real jabs at a Sacramento boxing gym Wednesday afternoon.

Clad in a gray Ultimate Fighting Championship T-shirt, the former U.S. Treasury official worked up a considerable sweat running drills with an instructor at Sacramento's UFC Gym and the young students training there -- most of whom were well under voting age.

Kashkari said the workout was a fitting campaign stop because he's "focused on education.I'm focused on fighting on behalf of the kids of California -- the kids that Jerry Brown has turned his back on."

Education has been a major theme of the Republican's campaign. He often laments the performance of California schools and accuses Brown of catering to teachers unions.

"We're just letting everyone in California know that Jerry Brown had a choice between fighting for kids and fighting for the unions that have funded his political career," Kashkari said. "He picked the unions. He betrayed the kids. If I can get everyone in California to know that, we can win this election."

Dan Newman, a spokesman for the Brown campaign, dismissed Kashkari's boxing stop as theatrics.

"Self-funding, silly stunts and now UFC? This guy is trying a bit too hard to be like Meg and Arnold," Newman said.

Kashkari, who says he works out regularly but has never boxed before, demurred from entering the actual boxing ring, preferring to practice his one-two punch combinations with a trainer and on a punching bag.

"I've got a big nose. I've got a big target," Kashkari said. "I'm a little nervous about some kid breaking my nose, because I'm not very good at this."

His young, fellow trainees seemed unfazed by the newcomer to the class; most continued to go about their drills without paying Kashkari much attention.

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At youth boxing class, Kashkari jabs Brown on education

While Democrats in Louisiana are largely dodging ties to President Barack Obama this election season, Republicans aren't necessarily embracing Gov. Bobby Jindal.

Asked to grade the Republican governor's performance, GOP congressional contenders have answered with middling marks or avoided the question altogether.

The governor is traveling the country laying the groundwork for a possible 2016 presidential campaign, but his approval ratings at home hover well below 50 percent following criticism of his frequent out-of-state travel and years of budget cuts.

At a Tuesday forum in Monroe, only two of six Republican candidates in the 5th District congressional race said they would support Jindal for president. Three said no, including U.S. Rep. Vance McAllister, who defeated a Jindal ally to win his seat last year.

Republican Zach Dasher hired Jindal's chief fundraiser and political consultant for his campaign, but he wouldn't commit to the governor's presidential bid.

"I support anyone who wants to run," he said. Asked after the event to clarify his position, Dasher said it's too early to choose a presidential candidate.

In the 6th District congressional race, even Jindal's former coastal restoration chief, Republican Garret Graves, hedged when asked to rate his ex-boss on a 1-to-10 scale.

"There are things out there you can look at, things that have gone well. And there are things you can look at that I believe are mistakes," Graves said Monday at a Baton Rouge candidate forum.

Other Republican candidates gave the governor lukewarm ratings between 4 and 6.

Pearson Cross, head of the political science department at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, said GOP contenders have to tread carefully.

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GOP Candidates in La. Not Embracing Bobby Jindal

Republican vs Democrat on Climate Change

By: Bryan Wright

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Republican vs Democrat on Climate Change - Video

2 Republican politicians endorse Ashford following ads
The Nebraska GOP is spending lots of money putting Democratic congressional candidate Brad Ashford #39;s face on TV next to Nikke Jenkins. Two Republican politicians endorsed Brad Ashford Sunday.

By: KETV NewsWatch 7

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2 Republican politicians endorse Ashford following ads - Video