Fox News (Mobile)

Virginia could be poised to swing back to Republican hands in a big way on Tuesday. 

The traditionally purple state has trended Democratic in recent elections. President Obama secured a victory there in last year's presidential election and the governorship has been in Democratic hands for eight years. 

But with Republican Bob McDonnell holding a wide lead over Democrat Creigh Deeds, the former state attorney general could be at the fore of a GOP takeover on Election Day. 

Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, told Fox News he expects McDonnell to win big -- and usher other Republicans into office along the way. 

"McDonnell is not only going to win -- he's going to win by a landslide. He's going to pull his entire ticket to victory," he said, predicting GOP gains in the House of Delegates as well. "It's a big Republican year in Virginia."