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Meet the Press host Chuck Todd recently asked the media roundtable: Hillary Clinton would love to see the Senate in Republican hands, going into 2016, wouldnt she? Politico editor Jim VandeHei replied, I think a lot of Democrats would. Mr. VandeHei went on to say that some Democrats would love for senators such as Marco Rubio or Rand Paulto own the dysfunction that would surely follow should Republicans take control of the Senate in November.

I sure hope that no one in Mrs. Clintons orbit, or at the White House, thinks like this. On a superficial level the reasoning sounds right, but the reality is far different.

Imagine what the Benghazi investigations would look like under a Senate Armed Service Committee chaired by Sen. John McCain, with an assist from Sen. Lindsey Graham. With the larger media megaphone and bigger, more experienced professional policy staff that come with control of a Senate committee, things would be much better run and more effective than the circus-like atmosphere that Rep. Darrell Issa specializes in. And in conjunction with the select committee that Rep. Trey Gowdy is heading, its safe to assume that this issue isnt going away anytime soon.

Now consider that on Sunday 400,000 people marched in support of climate change legislation. If the Senate flips in the midterms, a renowned climate-change denier would chair the Committee on Environment and Public Works. And you can bet your last dollar that an investigation of why the White House hasnt approved the Keystone pipeline would be at the top of his agenda and that the former secretary of state would be dragged into that inquiry as well.

Democrats should be careful about what they wish for. If Republicans take over the Senate, Democrats could wash their hands of any responsibility for legislating, but Republicans would still have the power to subpoenaand would not be afraid to use it.

Jim Manley, director of the communications practice at QGA Public Affairs, is a former aide to Sens.Harry ReidandEdward Kennedy.He is on Twitter:@jamespmanley.

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3 Reasons for Democrats to Worry If Republicans Win the Senate

National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, John Odigie-Oyegun

The All Progressives Congress has released its timetable for the nomination of candidates for elective offices on the party platform.

According to the timetable seen by our correspondent in Abuja, on Sunday, the expression of interest forms for all offices will go on sale as from Monday, October 6, 2014.

Those interested in seeking the partys nomination to stand in the presidential, governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly are expected to pick their forms between October 6 and 19, 2014.

Sale of nomination forms for presidential aspirants will commence on October 20 and end on November 6, 2014.

Screening of Presidential aspirants has been slated for between November 10 and 13 while November 14 and 15 are for appeals. The partys national convention is slated for Tuesday, December 2, 2014.

The sale of nomination forms for those interested in the governorship race is slated for between October 20 and November 9, 2014.

Screening of aspirants will hold as from November 10 to 12, 2014 while appeals have been slated for between November 13 and 14, 2014.

Governorship primaries is to hold on Saturday, November 15 , 2014 while appeals emanating from the primaries will be entertained as from November 18 to 22, 2014.

Sale of nomination forms for senatorial aspirants will begin on October 20 and end on November 17, 2014, while their screening will hold between November 19 and 20, 2014.

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APC releases timetable for party primaries

The Canadian Press Published Monday, September 22, 2014 6:09AM EDT Last Updated Monday, September 22, 2014 9:13PM EDT

FREDERICTON -- New Brunswick's Liberals and governing Progressive Conservatives were in an unusually tight race as votes were tallied at the conclusion of an election campaign that was dominated by jobs and the economy.

The Liberals, led by political rookie Brian Gallant, had been the perceived front-runner in the race long before the campaign even began. But the results indicated a much closer contest than polls suggested.

Like his main rival, Tory Premier David Alward, Gallant focused his campaign on employment growth, promising to create thousands of jobs by spending $900 million over six years to pave roads, repair bridges and upgrade other infrastructure.

By contrast, Alward sought a second mandate by committing to spur economic growth through expansion of the province's relatively new but contentious shale gas industry.

Alward's position was polarizing in the province, where public protests have raised concerns about the industry's use of hydraulic fracturing.

But Alward, 54, said New Brunswick is on the verge of $10 billion in private investment if it develops its deposits of shale gas and welcomes the proposed Energy East Pipeline, which could see oil shipped from Alberta to Saint John.

Alward and Gallant were both elected in their ridings by wide margins. But six of Alward's cabinet ministers went down in defeat.

With a large number of polls reporting results, the Liberals were leading and elected in 25 ridings compared to the Tories with 23.

Green Leader David Coon had a small lead in a close three-way race in the riding of Fredericton South.

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Liberals and Tories in close race after early returns in N.B. election

The Canadian Press Published Monday, September 22, 2014 6:09AM EDT Last Updated Monday, September 22, 2014 9:13PM EDT

FREDERICTON -- New Brunswick's Liberals and governing Progressive Conservatives were in an unusually tight race as votes were tallied at the conclusion of an election campaign that was dominated by jobs and the economy.

The Liberals, led by political rookie Brian Gallant, had been the perceived front-runner in the race long before the campaign even began. But the results indicated a much closer contest than polls suggested.

Like his main rival, Tory Premier David Alward, Gallant focused his campaign on employment growth, promising to create thousands of jobs by spending $900 million over six years to pave roads, repair bridges and upgrade other infrastructure.

By contrast, Alward sought a second mandate by committing to spur economic growth through expansion of the province's relatively new but contentious shale gas industry.

Alward's position was polarizing in the province, where public protests have raised concerns about the industry's use of hydraulic fracturing.

But Alward, 54, said New Brunswick is on the verge of $10 billion in private investment if it develops its deposits of shale gas and welcomes the proposed Energy East Pipeline, which could see oil shipped from Alberta to Saint John.

Alward and Gallant were both elected in their ridings by wide margins. But six of Alward's cabinet ministers went down in defeat.

With a large number of polls reporting results, the Liberals were leading and elected in 25 ridings compared to the Tories with 23.

Green Leader David Coon had a small lead in a close three-way race in the riding of Fredericton South.

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Liberals, Tories neck and neck after early returns in N.B. election

In the last week of the campaign, the New Brunswick Liberals ran a television ad featuring a picture of a smiling David Alward, the Progressive Conservative leader and Premier, beside Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Ominous music played in the background as a female narrator said: Conservatives David Alward and Stephen Harper have made a mess of New Brunswicks economy over the last four years. She asked voters if they want another four years of job losses, higher debt, and young people fleeing the province.

Globe and Mail Update Sep. 22 2014, 12:21 PM EDT

It may be a provincial campaign, but Liberal Leader Brian Gallant, the 32-year-old rookie, has been invoking the Prime Minister in one of his key campaign messages: the Harper-Alward alliance has been bad for New Brunswick.

Mr. Alwards team calls the ad nasty and is not happy the Liberals repeatedly refer to Mr. Alward and his party as the Alward Conservatives, deliberately forgetting to include the Progressive in the partys name.

They have such a strong brand right now because of Trudeau, says a senior Alward strategist of the Liberals. The advantage they have is that they have that same brand right across the country. Its the red L. From a brand perspective its difficult [for the PCs] because of Harper and some of the policies hes had in Atlantic Canada.

New Brunswickers go to the polls Monday, ending a campaign that has offered voters clear choices, especially on the key issue of job creation.

Mr. Alward, 54, is seeking a second term. He has focused his campaign on the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing, as a way of creating jobs and keeping young New Brunswickers who have left for jobs in the West at home.

His campaign slogan is Say Yes to shale gas, jobs and prosperity. He is hoping the province will see $10-billion in private investment through the governments promotion of natural-resource development, including shale gas and the proposed Energy East pipeline.

Mr. Alward made history in 2010 by winning a majority and defeating the Liberals, who had served just one term the first time a New Brunswick government lost after just one term. Now, Mr. Gallant wants to do the same to Mr. Alward.

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New Brunswick Liberals link Alward to Harper as voters head to polls