Few would have predicted on the night of Barack Obama’s election to the White House that the political winds would have shifted so forcefully in the other direction two years later.

Why does 2010 look to be such a big year for the Republicans? Washington Examiner senior political analyst Michael Barone offered some ideas during today’s John Locke Foundation 2010 Election Preview Headliner panel discussion. Click play below to hear his remarks.

Republicans are pushing for control of one or both chambers of the legislative branch in Washington, D.C., and Raleigh. What would GOP victory mean for the Democratic administrations of President Obama and Gov. Beverly Perdue? Panel moderator and GOP strategist Marc Rotterman asked Democratic consultant Gary Pearce and JLF President John Hood to address that question. Click play below to hear the exchange.

You’ll find links to the full-length panel discussion and other John Locke Foundation events here.