Georgia conflict to dominate Sunday talk shows

The conflict in Georgia and the vice presidential process will dominate the Sunday public affairs shows.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will stop by NBC’s “Meet the Press,” “Fox News Sunday,” and CBS’s “Face the Nation” while her counterpart at the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, will appear on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” and CNN’s “Late Edition.”

{mosads}Rice arrived in Georgia on Thursday to negotiate a cease-fire with the former Soviet Republic and the invading Russian forces.

After the two cabinet members address the current overseas crisis, several possible vice presidential candidates will make Sunday show appearances.

Govs. Bobby Jindal (R-La.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) will be on “Meet the Press.” Jindal was on “This Week” last Sunday, where he was questioned about the crisis in Georgia, his voting record when he was in Congress, and the energy crisis.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) will be on “This Week.” Romney has become a vocal Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) supporter in past weeks and has done several television interviews to promote the Republican candidate.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) and Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) will appear on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” Pawlenty made several public appearances in Washington a few weeks ago and Bayh has been campaigning with Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) will be on CNN’s “Late Edition,” Richardson was on “This Week” last weekend and said there he hoped there would be no roll call vote for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) at the Democratic National Convention.

It was announced this past week that Richardson and Bayh, along with Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), would speak on Wednesday night during the Democratic National Convention — the night the vice presidential candidate speaks. That set off a lot of speculation in Washington as to whether one of these men is the vice presidential nominee or if it’s someone not listed – such as Kaine.

“Fox News Sunday” hosts former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge (R) and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.). Ridge is a longtime McCain supporter and has been mentioned in some circles as a possible VP candidate. But there have been doubts about whether conservatives will accept him because he supports abortion rights. McCaskill was an early Obama supporter and is speaking Monday night at the Democratic National Convention, which many pundits interpreted as her removal from the vice presidential list.

And don’t forget “Meet the Press” will air at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday in the DC market because of the Olympics.