Marquette Theater was nearly full to hear Democratic political consultant James Carville and his wife, Republican political consultant Mary Matalin on Monday.

Carville began by speaking about the historic nature of the recent presidential election and the current potential for change. The event was a follow-up to a previous lecture that Carville had given at Loyola in April. In response to an audience member’s question regarding a comment he had made at the event last spring on Obama’s inexperience, Carville said, “If we were governed by experienced people, we would never have a chance for new people to come in.”

Matalin crossed party lines repeatedly during her speech after Carville, mentioning that she supported Obama’s decision to nominate Hillary Clinton for secretary of state. She cited Clinton’s knowledge of programs in the Middle East and her positive ties there as two of the reasons and said, “She’s a very responsible, hard-working person” who was “going to make people listen to her.” 

Carville and Matalin disagreed on the subject of Sarah Palin. Carville, according to his wife, was critical of Palin, while Matalin argued that Palin had somehow managed to connect with many Republicans. Matalin also thought that the response to Palin was an overreaction.

Carville left before his wife spoke to make an appearance at CNN, and question and answer sessions with Matalin had to be cut short after the hour time limit had passed.

Gabriella Lopez can be reached at [email protected].