Paul Begala is an American political consultant and commentator. He gained recognition as a strategist during the 1992 Clinton-Gore campaign, which led to Bill Clinton becoming the first Democratic president in over a decade. Born in New Jersey, Begala studied at the University of Texas at Austin, earning a Bachelor of Arts and a Juris Doctor degree. He joined forces with James Carville to advise Clinton on key issues such as the economy, healthcare, education, and natural resource protection. Begala's efforts played a significant role in Clinton's successful reelection in 1996, which marked the start of the longest economic expansion in U.S. history and the creation of over 22 million jobs. After leaving the White House, Begala continued his political analysis work. He co-hosted MSNBC's "Equal Time" and CNN's "Crossfire." Begala is also an accomplished author, with bestselling books such as "Is Our Children Learning?" and "It's Still the Economy, Stupid," which offer insights into U.S. politics. Currently, he works as a political analyst for CNN, providing commentary on various programs and events.