Kerry and Lieberman to face off Sunday

Members of the last two Democratic presidential tickets will discuss this cycle’s opposing White House candidates on NBC’s “Meet the Press” this Sunday.

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), the Democrats’ 2004 presidential nominee, will be talking about current candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

{mosads}But discussing Republican candidate Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) will be Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), the Democrats’ 2000 vice presidential nominee.

Both men have been vocal supporters of their respective candidates and have become the lead surrogates on national security matters. They have both participated in conference calls with reporters and appeared on various television programs to defend their candidates.

Kerry was an early Obama supporter, endorsing the Illinois senator while the intense Democratic presidential primary was still in full swing and his own former running mate, former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.), was a candidate.

Lieberman endorsed the Arizona senator in New Hampshire a few weeks before that state’s primary, which McCain went on to win.

Lieberman has also indicated he’s open to speaking at the Republican National Convention. He told The Hill earlier this year: “If Sen. McCain, who I support so strongly, asked me to do it, if he thinks it will help him, I will.”

Lieberman, an Independent who caucuses with Senate Democrats, has, thus far, not seen any public retribution from Senate leadership for his support of McCain. Lieberman retains his chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has publicly stated Lieberman will keep his gavel.