Belmont to Feature Noted Commentators in Interview

Matalin, Carville on www.belmontdebate08.com
Well-known political commentators Mary Matalin and James Carville are set to be Belmont University’s final guests in its “Behind the Scenes at the Presidential Debates” interview series on the official 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate Web site, www.belmontdebate08.com.

The interviews are part of Belmont University’s series of educational programs and events in conjunction with the debate on Oct. 7, 2008, in the Curb Event Center on the Belmont University campus.

Matalin and Carville, who are husband and wife, are best known for their work as political analysts and consultants for some of the most powerful political figures of the last 25 years. In the interviews to be featured exclusively on Belmont University’s Debate08 Web site, Carville and Matalin reveal little-known details and gaffes that happen during preparations for and during debates.

Matalin and Carville worked on opposing political sides during the 1992 campaign in which Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton defeated incumbent President George H.W. Bush and Independent candidate H. Ross Perot. Carville was Clinton’s campaign manager while Matalin served as deputy campaign manager for political operations on Bush’s staff. Matalin has recently served as an assistant to President George W. Bush and as counsel to Vice President Dick Cheney. She was the first White House official to serve in the roles simultaneously. Matalin is a contributing writer for media outlets like Newsweek and the Los Angeles Times. Carville currently works as a consultant on foreign political campaigns. Both Matalin and Carville currently serve as political commentators for various media outlets.

Belmont University’s “Behind the Scenes at the Presidential Debates” interview series also features segments with former Administrative Assistant to Robert F. Kennedy John Siegenthaler, former Ronald Reagan Communications Director Tom Griscom and former Vice President Al Gore’s Chief of Staff Roy Neel.