By Samuel Rubenfeld

Two prominent message campaign gurus discussed the nature of their work with students and members of the community on Monday at Monroe Lecture Center, and they held a special session for honors students in the Hofstra Hall Parlor.

Paul Begala, a Democratic strategist, and Frank Luntz, a Republican pollster, were the guests for “The Evolving Role of the Poll and Public Opinion in Election Politics,” an event that is part of the Educate ’08 initiative.

At the honors session, Luntz walked into the parlor, and before sitting down to answer questions, he asked every student in the room which candidate they were supporting in the presidential election and why they were supporting that candidate. The conservative students supported Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), while the Democratic students were split between Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), and two supported Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas).

Begala expressed his admiration and his support for Clinton at the honors session. “I love her,” he said. As soon as Clinton announced her candidacy, Begala said he “maxed out” for her-he donated the maximum amount allowable under election law to Clinton’s campaign: $2,300.

Asked about how his support impacted his appearances on CNN, Begala said he disclosed his contribution on the air, and in January, it was reported that he was pulled from the air while the Democrats were choosing their nominee, but CNN later decided to host both pro-Clinton and pro-Obama Democratic analysts on the air at the same time.

Luntz said the pundits emphasized the horse race over policy substance. “I want to see them [the candidates] get into their policies on Iran and about housing,” he said.

Both criticized the role of pundits in the election, but differed on how to approach it as a candidate. “Too much cable television is based on dopey predictions,” Begala said. “You almost never fail if you turn the media back on itself.”

Both also cited the ineffectiveness and inaccuracy of polls during the election cycle, and Luntz lamented his role as a pollster himself. “It’s been a bad year for pollsters,” he said.

Paul Begala (right), a Democratic strategist, and Frank Luntz, a Republican pollster, discuss how polls and messaging have influenced the presidential election thusfar. (University Relations)