Sunday shows: 3 key Senate races

Look for plenty of Senate fodder on this week’s Sunday Shows as the
lineup features Senate candidates from three key races this fall and
the GOP’s Senate campaign chief.

NBC’s “Meet the Press” highlights one of the country’s marquee
contests with a debate between Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and prosecutor Ken Buck (R).

{mosads}Bennet has tried to distance himself from the White House and
President Obama in what has become a race to win over undecided
independents in the state. Bennet also gets a campaign visit from
former President Bill Clinton this week — the man who opposed him in
the Democratic primary.

“Meet the Press” leads off with White House Press Secretary Robert
Gibbs, who created a Democratic firestorm during an appearance back in
July when he suggested Republicans could take back the House in
November.

CNN’s “State of the Union” will feature Obama senior adviser David Axelrod.

Then on ABC’s “This Week,” both Democrat Chris Coons and Tea Party
favorite Christine O’Donnell are interviewed, taking the pulse of a
Senate race that is still commanding national attention, despite a
sizeable poll lead for the Democrat.

Coons was the beneficiary of a joint campaign rally and fundraiser
Friday headlined by President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.
O’Doonell and Coons also sparred in a much talked about CNN debate
earlier this week where O’Donnell assailed the Democrat for holding
“Marxist beliefs.”

Also on “This Week” is the first lady of California, Maria Shriver,
and Ann O’Leary of the Center for American Progress.

On “Fox News Sunday” it’ll be a debate over the landscape in this
year’s contested Senate contests with Sens. John Cornyn (Texas) and
Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.). Republicans are poised for major gains in
the upper chamber this fall and still have a shot at taking back the
majority given the number of seats in play.

Earlier this month, Cornyn predicted a Republican “tsunami” on
Election Day and said he’s bullish on GOP pick-ups even in tough
states like West Virginia and Connecticut.

“Fox News Sunday” also has California’s Republican Senate nominee
Carly Fiorina, fresh off the results of a new Field poll released
Friday that showed her within a point of Sen. Barbara Boxer
(D-Calif.).

Finally, CBS’s “Face the Nation” has former Democratic National
Committee Chairman Howard Dean and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).
Republican strategist Liz Cheney and former Clinton administration
official and Brookings fellow Bill Galston also join the show.