And now, from the University of Chicago Institute of Politics and CNN, the Axviles, with your

host, David Axelrod.

I've met lots and lots of people in politics in my life, but no one smarter or more passionate

about politics, about public service, about this country, than Paul Begalla.

Paul, as many of you know, has been involved in most or of the major campaigns of the last

30 years on the Democratic side.

He famously partnered up with James Carveld and win a series of stunning statewide races

and then in the 80s and early 90s and then hooked up with Bill Clinton and Carveld and

Begalla were really the driving force behind the election of Bill Clinton in 1992.

He served in that administration.

He's been the host of Crossfire and he is a commentator on CNN and a constant presence

in the political dialogue.

But more than anything, he is a really, really interesting guy, as you can hear for yourself.

So my friend Paul Begalla, we have known each other for a quarter century.

But when you prepare for these podcasts, you learn stuff about people that you didn't

know.

You prepare?

I've always thought of you as one of the smartest political guys I've ever known.

So I want you to explain to me how one loses a race for student party president to

hang the hallucination which you did at the University of Texas.

Hang the hallucination beat you on a ride in.

How did that happen?

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