Paul Begala

Paul Begala
Begala in 2012
Counselor to the President
In office
August 17, 1997 – March 10, 1999
PresidentBill Clinton
Preceded byBill Curry
Succeeded byAnn Lewis
Personal details
Born
Paul Edward Begala

(1961-05-12) May 12, 1961 (age 63)
New Jersey, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseDiane Friday
Children4
Residence(s)Virginia, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Texas at Austin (BA, JD)

Paul Edward Begala (born May 12, 1961) is an American political consultant and political commentator, best known as the former advisor to President Bill Clinton.

Begala was a chief strategist for the 1992 Clinton-Gore campaign, which carried 33 states and made Clinton the first Democrat to occupy the White House in 12 years. As counselor to the President in the Clinton White House, he coordinated policy, politics, and communications.

Begala gained national prominence as part of the political consulting team Carville and Begala, which he formed with fellow Clinton advisor James Carville. He was a co-host on the political debate program Equal Time on MSNBC from 1999 to 2000, and a co-host on the similar debate program Crossfire on CNN from 2002 to 2005. He now appears regularly on CNN as a Democratic pundit. He is an Affiliated Professor of Public Policy at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy.