Sunday shows preview: 2020 Democrats jockey for top spot ahead of Nevada caucuses

Top 2020 Democratic presidential candidates will make rounds on the Sunday show circuit as the Nevada caucuses approach next Saturday.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), who seeks to gain momentum after placing third in New Hampshire primary, is booked on every major network Sunday besides Fox News. Klobuchar, who polled at about 10 percent in a recent Las Vegas Review-Journal poll, was not booked on any network last week, two days before the New Hampshire primary. 

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt), who won the popular vote in New Hampshire and is polling above every other candidate in Nevada at 25 percent, is notably not booked on any Sunday talk shows as of Saturday afternoon. 

Former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who currently leads the pack in terms of national delegates, will appear on CNN’s “State of the Union” and “Fox News Sunday”. Buttigieg, who trailed Sanders in New Hampshire by one percentage point, is polling at 10 percent in Nevada. 

Businessman Tom Steyer, who polls slightly above Buttigieg and Klobuchar in the state at 11 percent, is booked on ABC’s “This Week” and CBS’s “Face the Nation.”

Former Vice President Joe Biden, who is competing with Buttigieg and Klobuchar for moderate voters, is booked on NBC’s “Meet the Press” and will have a pre-recorded interview airing on Univision’s “Al Punto” Sunday morning.

The media attention on a Latino media network could give Latinos another look at Biden, who is polling at 18 percent in Nevada. Latinos make up nearly 30 percent of the state’s population. 

The thick of the Democratic nominating season comes amid a hectic time in Washington, as President Trump’s relationship with the Department of Justice (DOJ) has come under scrutiny in recent days.

All four of the prosecutors handling the case of Trump confidant Roger Stone resigned after the DOJ opted for a lighter sentencing of Stone after their initial recommendation. Previously, Trump made it known that he thought the sentencing for Stone was “unfair.” 

Stone was found guilty on the charges of lying to Congress and witness tampering. 

Later on in the week, Attorney General Bill Barr said Trump’s comments on the case “make it impossible” for him to do his job. 

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway will make an appearance on “Fox News Sunday”. Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon as well as other allies of the president — such House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) — will all appear on Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Features.”

House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) is also booked on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief of the National Institutes of Health’s infectious diseases, is also booked on CBS’ “Face the Nation” as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases rises to 65,000 in China with more than 1,500 deaths. 

Here’s the full Sunday show lineup:

ABC’s “This Week” — Democratic presidential candidates Amy Klobuchar and Tom Steyer.

NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Klobuchar; Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.

CBS’ “Face the Nation” — Klobuchar, Steyer; Dr. Anthony Fauci, the National Institutes of Health’s infectious diseases chief; Sen. John Kennedy, (R-La.)

CNN’s “State of the Union” — Klobuchar; Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg; Marc Short, chief of staff to the vice president; Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.)

“Fox News Sunday” — Buttigieg; White House counselor Kellyanne Conway.

Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures” — Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon; Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA); Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR); Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL); Trey Gowdy, former Congressman (R-SC)  and chair of House Oversight Committee Chairman.

Univision’s “Al Punto” — Former Vice President and presidential candidate Joe Biden