James Carville and Mary Matalin draw 2,600 to Saint Xavier University

America’s favorite political couple gives election primer at SXU Shannon Center

Chicago (Oct. 31, 2008) – Legendary political strategists James Carville and Mary Matalin thrilled more than 2,600 spectators Thursday night at the Saint Xavier University Shannon Center just days before the November presidential election. America’s favorite bipartisan political couple had the packed house roaring at anecdotes from both their family life and their storied careers with the Democratic and Republican national candidates.

“I want to express Saint Xavier’s sincere thanks to Ms. Matalin and Mr. Carville for such an entertaining, informative evening,” said SXU Vice President for University Relations Robert Tenczar. “To bring such a high level of political discourse to the city of Chicago just days before this most historic election has been an honor.”

Carville and Matalin, who are married, are two of the foremost Democratic and Republican political consultants in the country. In between fun stories of their family life, both bared their famous political fangs when sharing personal opinions of the current presidential election. Matalin discounted polling, currently giving Obama wide leads in many states, as the “crack cocaine of politics,” and Carville criticized Republican campaign officials for commencing the blame game before the election has ended.

“I don’t care if you are a Republican or Democrat,” Carville said. “You stand by your post until the election is over.”

Carville gained fame as lead strategist of Bill Clinton’s successful presidential bid in 1992 and was honored as Campaign Manager of the Year by the American Association of Political Consultants in 1993. Since then, he has served as a consultant to presidents and prime ministers around the world and is a regular CNN commentator and contributor.

Matalin formerly served as assistant to President George W. Bush and counselor to Vice President Dick Cheney, and was the first White House official to hold that double title. She held senior positions in the George H. W. Bush 1988 campaign and was appointed chief of staff for the Republican National Council. She hosted CNN’s critically acclaimed debate program Crossfire and other political shows.

The event was sponsored by the Saint Xavier University Office for University Relations.

-SXU-

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Contact: Joe Moore

773-298-3937 or jmoore@sxu.edu