Paul Begala, CNN political commentator, will discuss the 2008 political race in a lecture cosponsored by the Vinson Institute on October 22. Begala is currently Carl E. Sanders Political Leadership Scholar at the University of Georgia's School of Law, where he teaches a course on how the media affects law, politics, and public policy.

Begala is a former top-ranking White House official, political consultant, corporate communications strategist, and university professor who has spent his career in the mix of politics, policy, and the press. "We are privileged to have Paul Begala take the time to speak about the upcoming political race. His own personal experience in the political arena gives him a unique, first-hand perspective on the ins and outs of running a campaign," notes Steve Wrigley, Vinson Institute director.

Other sponsors of Begala's talk, which is entitled "Politics 2008: Serious Business or Show Business for Ugly People", are UGA's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, the Honors Program, the Office of the Vice President for Instruction, the School of Law, and the School of Public and International Affairs.

The lecture, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the University Chapel on UGA's north campus.