With just less than a month until the midterm elections, the Republicans are looking to wrest control of the Senate by netting at least six states.

One particularly bright spot is Iowa.

Iowa state Sen. Joni Ernst (R) is poised to unseat retiring Sen. Tom Harkin (D) with a six-point lead, a momentum she picked up since winning a come-from-behind race during the primary in June.

Like Us on Facebook

Her victory against Democratic opponent Bruce Braley is seen as what will position the Republicans as the Senate majority for the rest of President Barack Obama's second term.

The Iraq war veteran used to be a little known conservative Iowa state senator. After appearing in a TV ad in which she claimed to know how to cut pork-she grew up in a farm, after all-the self-described farm girl burst into the political scene, beating three other GOP primary opponents while rallying behind her a solid coalition of Republican groups.

Ernst's interesting personal story plus her lively personality turned her into an instant tea party favorite and one of the highest profile candidates in this year's tightest senatorial bids.

The Democrats who seek to keep Iowa a blue state believe that beating Ernst require drawing attention away from her likable personality and engage her to talk about her stand on key issues, CNN reported.

Democrats argue that Ernst, who has managed to create a level of rapport with voters within a very short time, stand on issues not widely supported by the Hawkeye majority.

As for Democrat candidate Cong. Baley, repairing his out-of-touch-with-reality image is underway.

Baley has suffered some early backlash with a series of gaffes involving his remarks against Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) whom he called an Iowan farmer who never went to law school. The republicans have since pounded on him the image of a Washington creature who cannot anymore relate with Iowans, CNN reported.

The result of the Iowa elections will be pivotal, reported NBC News. According to the polls recently released by the network, the candidate who wins Iowa will determine who will control the Senate especially since GOP has the upper hand in five of the six crucial states.

TagsPolitics of the United States, State governments of the United States, politics, Iowa, Joni Ernst