James Carville to Teach Course on Election Strategies at Tulane University

James Carville, the legendary political strategist and CNN commentator who led Bill Clinton"s 1992 presidential campaign to victory, has joined the faculty of the Tulane University Department of Political Science. His first course, “The 2008 Presidential Election,” will be offered in Spring 2009 and will examine the evolution of the 2008 election.

“I am pleased to be joining the faculty of such a prestigious university, one that is such an important part of this community that I again call home,” said Carville. ”Our class will be an exciting one with nationally recognized guests examining the 2008 election. I am certainly looking forward to getting back into the classroom.”

“The Department of Political Science is delighted that James Carville will be joining us,” said Anthony Pereira, professor and chair of the Department of Political Science. “His class will put the 2008 presidential election under the microscope, combining the insights of high-level political practitioners with the findings of researchers. This is an exciting opportunity for our faculty, students and the entire Tulane community.”

Carville is one of the best-known and successful election strategists of our time, appearing regularly on CNN"s Situation Room and other news programs. His leading role in Clinton"s winning campaign of 1992 was documented in the Academy Award nominated film The War Room. He has since worked on national campaigns around the world, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Israel, and Bolivia. Earlier this year, Carville and his wife, Republican campaign strategist Mary Matalin, relocated their family to New Orleans from the D.C. area.

Students enrolled in Carville"s course will critically examine both the nomination process and the general election. By examining how detailed demographic groups voted, students will conduct a retrospective analysis identifying the factors which resulted in the voting trends that led to the outcome of the 2008 election, and how each campaign attempted to affect voters" decisions. The course will feature weekly guest speakers, including prominent journalists, political party leaders, politicians, pollsters, and campaign strategists.

For more information about the course, contact Adjunct Assistant Professor Michael Sherman at 504-250-2257 or sherman@tulane.edu