After Tim Russert: Meet The Press with...?

So, the speculation has begun, as to who will replace Tim Russert, both as Moderator of Meet The Press, and as Washington Bureau Chief.  Much like Spud over at Inside Cable News, I think the roles will go to two different people.

I will concentrate on the on-air role of Meet The Press host, rather than the Washington Bureau Chief role.  So who do I think might be the next host?

Brit Hume - Host of Special Report on Fox News Channel and panelist on Fox News Sunday.  Also Washington Managing Editor for Fox News.  More likely for Washington Bureau Chief, but an outside chance for Meet The Press.

Bob Schieffer - Chief Washington Correspondent for CBS News and Anchor of Face The Nation.  Has just signed a new long term deal, so unlikely to move from CBS.

George Stephanopolus - ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent.  Not considered a likely successor. 

Gwen Ifill - Senior Correspondent at PBS Newshour and moderator of Washington Week on PBS.  She spent 5 years at NBC before moving to PBS.  She could be one of the dark horses who actually might be a great choice.

Gordon Peterson - Anchor at WJLA and host of Inside Washington.  Another dark horse who could do a very good job.

Andrea Mitchell - A senior Washington correspondent at NBC News and looks the favourite to my eyes.  Would be as big a story as Katie Couric anchoring the CBS Evening News.

David Gregory - Senior White House Correspondent for NBC News.  Another favourite in the eyes of the media, though has his own MSNBC show and no immediate replacement seems likely.

Joe Scarborough - Host of MSNBC's Morning Joe.  Longtime host on MSNBC, perhaps a little too opinionated for Meet The Press.  Outside shot.

Chris Matthews - Host of Hardball on MSNBC.  Has long been seen as natural successor, but could be too opinionated and loud for Meet The Press.  Other factors against include talk of a possible run for the Senate in 2010.

Keith Olbermann - Host and Managing Editor of Countdown on MSNBC.  Can't see him moving across to Washington.  Also, too opinionated.  Factor in his favour though is he is seen as ratings gold currerntly on Countdown.  Still an outside shot for the show.

Tom Brokaw - Special Correspondent for NBC News and former anchor of NBC Nightly News.  Anchored the special edition of Meet The Press paying tribute to Tim Russert.  Has the style and gravitas to make the show work, but not certain whether he would want to commit to a regular weekly show.  Still, a good each way bet.

Chuck Todd - Political Director at NBC News.  Has only recently become more of a presence in front of the camera, mostly works behind the scenes.  More likely for Washington Bureau Chief than Meet The Press.

So, to summarise, I think it will either be Andrea Mitchell, Gwen Ifill or Gordon Peterson who will host, with Tom Brokaw as a good each way bet.  Certainly there are other possibilities, such as Judy Woodroffe, longtime CNN anchor and now spreads her time between the PBS Newshour and Bloomberg, or Dan Rather, who was famously sacked from the CBS Evening News, and now hosts Dan Rather Reports on HDNet, but none of these people or the tons of others I could list, seem to be a good fit for Meet The Press.

I look forward to finding out who will become Moderator on Meet The Press.  And as Tim used to say, "If it's Sunday, it's Meet The Press."