Coming Up on 'This Week': Rick Santorum, Jack Lew, and Paul Ryan

Rick Santorum picks up momentum, while Washington faces off over the budget.

ByABC News
February 9, 2012, 10:05 AM

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2012— -- He's coming off a three-state sweep and is emerging as the latest GOP alternative to Mitt Romney. George Stephanopoulos talks with Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum about his surprising wins and how he plans to carry his newfound momentum forward.

Can he bring together the conservative vote and challenge Romney for the nomination? And could he be a credible challenger to President Obama? See former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum Sunday on "This Week."

Then, George talks with White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew about the contraception controversy that has some saying the administration is forcing religious organizations to violate their beliefs. Is this the first battle in a culture war campaign? And as the White House plans to release its budget, the economy shows new signs of life, driving up the president's poll numbers. But will trouble in Syria and tensions with Iran upend the recovery and the president's re-election efforts?

Plus, House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., says his party needs a bold agenda to beat President Obama and win a mandate for Republican policies. But will his party embrace what he calls a politically risky strategy? Ryan also weighs in on the looming deadline to extend the payroll tax cut, and how to pay for it, and whether the Washington blame-game will kill any hopes for a deal. See Rep. Paul Ryan on "This Week."

And our powerhouse roundtable with ABC's George Will, political strategist and ABC News contributor Donna Brazile, Fox News contributor and co-founder of Keep America Safe Liz Cheney, and Washington Post columnist David Ignatius debate all the week's politics, including the latest on the GOP race, the impact of the contraceptive controversy, and how turmoil overseas may impact the economy and the 2012 election.

See the whole political picture, Sunday on "This Week With George Stephanopoulos."