Presidential underdog candidates to dominate Sunday talk shows

Erin Kelly | USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — With presidential frontrunners taking the Christmas weekend off from the talk show circuit, Sunday's political broadcasts will be dominated by underdog candidates.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., who is running behind Hillary Clinton in most polls of Democratic voters, will appear on two of the major talk shows. Struggling GOP candidates Ben Carson, John Kasich and Mike Huckabee also will discuss their campaigns in separate appearances. Republican frontrunner Donald Trump is not scheduled to appear live on any of the Sunday shows, but ABC will air more of its previously recorded interview with the billionaire businessman.

Here's a look at the lineup:

• NBC's Meet the Press: Sanders will talk about his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination and how he hopes to overtake Clinton.

• CBS' Face the Nation: Sanders and Carson will discuss their efforts to win voters in their respective presidential primary bids. NASA astronaut Scott Kelly also is scheduled to speak from the International Space Station. Late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert will offer his thoughts on the presidential election and other issues.

• ABC's This Week: Kasich, the governor of Ohio, will talk about his campaign for the GOP presidential nomination. The program also will air more of reporter Jonathan Karl's previously recorded interview with Trump. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer will review the high court's key decisions of 2015.

• Fox News Sunday : Huckabee, former Arkansas governor, will talk about his presidential bid. Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, will discuss what can be done to keep America safe from terrorists.

• CNN's State of the Union: The show will focus on the 2016 election season. No specific guests have been announced.

• WUSA's Capital Download with Derek McGinty and Susan Page (airs in Washington, D.C. area): Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, a Republican and 2012 presidential candidate, will talk about the 2016 election. He also will discuss his efforts to promote bipartisanship as co-chairman of No Labels, a non-profit advocacy group that tries to bring together Republicans and Democrats on big issues. Gordon Witkin, executive editor at the Center for Public Integrity investigative news group, also will appear.