> >> PRESIDENT TRUMP AND OHIO REPUBLICANS, COAT TAILS.

> >> OHIO REPUBLICANS, COATTAILS.

THIS IS COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD.

>> WELCOME TO COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD, I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TEN DAYS, PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL HOLD AN OHIO RALLY TO ENERGIZE REPUBLICANS TO VOTE FOR JON HUSTED AND VIVEK RAMASWAMY.

THE PRESIDENT WAS IN THE DAYTON AREA LAST WEEK.

HE'LL BE IN THE YOUNGSTOWN AREA ON MONDAY.

ALIGNING WITH THE PRESIDENT HAS ITS REWARDS.

HE REMAINS VERY POPULAR WITH MANY OHIO REPUBLICANS WHO JON HUSTED AND VIVEK RAMASWAMY NEED TO TURN OUT AND VOTE.

BUT AMONG ALL IOWANS, THE PRESIDENT IS LOSING GROUND.

THE NEW YORK TIMES SIENA POLL SHOW ONLY 38% APPROVE WHILE 59% DISAPPROVE OF HIS PERFORMANCE.

TO LOOK AT WHETHER TRUMP CAN CARRY REPUBLICANS OR WEIGH THEM DOWN, WE TURN TO THIS WEEK'S PANEL, REPORTER REPORTER JO INGLES, MARIA BRUNO, AND MARK WEAVER, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST.

MARK, ALIGNING YOURSELF WITH A 38% APPROVE RATING IS NOT NECESSARILY A GOOD GOOD BUT DO JON HUSTED AND VIVEK RAMASWAMY HAVE A CHOICE?

>> WITH THE REPUBLICANS IT IS A 35, 36% APPROVAL RATING.

UNCLE DONALD IS STILL IN THE FAMILY PHOTO BUT WON'T BE IN THE CHRISTMAS PHOTO GOING OUT THIS YEAR.

TO PERSUADE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PERSUADEABLE AND TURN OUT THE PEOPLE ALREADY PERSUADED.

PRESIDENT TRUMP'S VISITS TO OHIO ARE LARGELY THAT LATTER EFFORT.

>> JO, LOOKING AT THE NEW YORK TIMES POLL, LOOK AT DON GEOGRAPHICALLY, NOT POLITICAL FAILUATIONS.

THE FAR NORTH EASTERN CORNER OF OHIO, TRUMP'S APPROVAL RATING IS AT 35%.

THAT CAUGHT MY EYE.

SECOND IN THE STATE NEXT TO COLUMBUS.

>> THAT CAUGHT MY EYE TOO BECAUSE THAT IS AN AREA WHERE HE HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL RUNS FOR OFFICE.

THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WORKING IN THE STEEL INDUSTRY AND CAR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY.

IT IS A VERY MANUFACTURING AREA.

THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.

AND THOSE USED TO BE UNION JOBS.

THOSE USED TO BE DEMOCRATS AND THEY KIND OF WENT OVER TO TRUMP AT ONE POINT.

NOW LOOKS LIKE THEY MIGHT BE SWINGING BACK AND THAT COULD BE ENOUGH TO SWAY AN SELECTION.

>> CAN DEMOCRATS WIN THAT REGION OF THE STATE BACK MARIA?

SEEMS LIKE THE LAST 12 YEARS HAVE BEEN A LOST CAUSE.

>> I ABSOLUTELY THINK THAT THE RURAL AREAS ARE UP FOR GRABS.

I THINK THAT YOU KNOW, THE REPUBLICANS AND TRUMP IN PARTICULAR HAVE RUN OUT OF PEOPLE TO POINT FINGERS AT.

IF YOU ARE IN A RURAL PART OF THE STATE, YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS REPUBLICAN, YOUR STATE GOVERNMENT IS REPUBLICAN AND YOUR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT IS REPUBLICAN.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE HOW THINGS ARE GOING, THERE IS NO ONE ELSE TO BLAME.

FOR BETTER OR WORSE, OHIO REPUBLICANS MARRIED THEIR POLITICAL FUTURE TO TRUMP A LONG TIME AGO AND THEY HAVE MADE THEIR ENTIRE BRAND NOT ONE OF IDEOLOGY, BUT ONE OF WE ARE WILLING TO DO WHAT TRUMP WANTS.

I THINK THE NUMBER ONE THING VOTERS ARE LOOKING FOR THIS TIME AROUND IS SOMEONE WHO WILL STAND UP TO HIM AND HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE AND THEY CAN'T DO THAT.

>> WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF JON HUSTED AND VIVEK RAMASWAMY HAD A SCHEDULING CONFLICT AND DIDN'T SHOW UP AT THE RALLY?

AS MIKE DEWINE OFTEN HAD?

>> IT COULD HAPPEN.

BUT WHEN YOU GET A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING TO THE RALLY, THE CAMPAIGNS ARE GATHERING DATA, GATHERING PHONE NUMBERS.

THIS BECOMES PART OF THE GET OUT THE VOTE EFFORT.

AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, ENERGIZING THE BASE, OHIO IS A RED STATE.

NORMALLY WE VOTE REPUBLICAN.

BUT IF REPUBLICANS STAY HOME, THE WAY THEY DID IN 2006 FOR EXAMPLE, THAT'S A BAD YEAR FOR REPUBLICANS.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> CAN HE TURN THOSE NUMBERS AROUND WITH THOSE RALLIES, JO?

HE IS GOOD ON THE STUMP.

THE RALLIES ARE VERY ENTERTAINING.

PEOPLE LOVE HIM WHEN HE GETS UP THERE.

HIS SUPPORTERS LOVE HIM.

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

HE IS NOT NECESSARILY SPEAKING, THOUGH, TO THE LANGUAGE WE ARE HEARING FROM VOTERS IN THOSE AREAS WHO ARE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUES.

THEY SAY THEY CAN'T AFFORD THINGS.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS THAT HE IS NOT SPEAKING TO ON THE STUMP SPEECH SO WE'LL SEE.

IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE VOTERS FEEL AT THE MOMENT THEY VOTE.

>> YOU DON'T SEE AN AD CRITICIZING SHARON BROWN WITHOUT HIM ALONGSIDE JOE BIDEN OR KAMALA HARRIS OR FAR LEFT CONGRESS PEOPLE.

WE DON'T SEE DONALD TRUMP IN A NEGATIVE AD WITH JON HUSTED AND VIVEK RAMASWAMY.

WHY AREN'T DEMOCRATS USE TRUMP AGAINST THOSE TWO CANDIDATES?

>> I THINK THAT IT IS VERY CLEAR THERE IS STILL A SUBSECTION OF OHIO VOTERS THAT FEEL SOME IDENTITY WITH TRUMP.

I THINK IT DOESN'T REALLY SERVE THEM TO TRY TO UNDERMINE THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE NEWLY LOOKING AT THE DEMOCRATS AS A POSSIBLE OPTION.

IT IS STILL A PLACE REPUBLICAN HAVES BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL ELECTORALLY.

AND IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME THAT DEMOCRATS AREN'T WILLING TO TAKE THAT RISK.

BECAUSE OF COURSE, THE APPROVAL RATINGS ARE WHAT THEY ARE.

WHAT WILL THEY BE NEXT WEEK?

WHO KNOWS.

>> WILL TRUMP FIND HIMSELF IN THE SAME POSITION JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS DID?

STOCK MARKETS UP.

UNEMPLOYMENT IS LOW.

BUT PRICES ARE HIGH.

AND THE PEOPLE SEEM TO BE PUTTING MORE EMPHASIS ON THE PRICES RATHER THAN THEIR JOBS.

>> POLITICAL SCIENTISTS CALL THIS RETRO SPECTIVE VOTING.

THE MOST OBVIOUS THING IS PRICES AT THE GAS PUMP WHICH WE SEE EVERY FEW DAYS AND THE GROCERY STORE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTS TO PUT A MARKETER ON THE STRUCTURE OF HOW THINGS ARE BEING DONE.

AT TEND OF HIS SECOND TERM, WE MAY THINK HE HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL BUT WE ARE NOT THERE YET.

MANY OF HIS SOLUTIONS ARE MID COURSE.

AND WE WILL SEE WHETHER OR NOT THAT AFFECTS THE MIDTERMS.

>> DO YOU THINK OHIO REPUBLICANS WILL HEAR WHAT HE IS SAYING?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

WHAT ARE THE INDEPENDENTS GOING TO DO?

THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WILL DECIDE THE ELECTION.

THE MAGA REPUBLICAN VOTERS WILL BE THERE WITH HIM.

A LOT OF THE REPUBLICANS WILL BE THERE WITH HIM WHETHER THEY LIKE HIM OR NOT.

THEY WILL SEE HIM AS THE LESSER OF THE EVIL.

BUT THE PEOPLE YOU REALLY GOT TO WORRY ABOUT ARE THE SWING VOTERS IN AREAS LIKE DELAWARE COUNTY.

IT'S PURPLE.

IT'S ON THE LINE.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYINGST UP THE FOR GRABS.

TRADITIONALLY A RUBY RED AREA.

THAT'S THE QUESTION.

>> DAYTON LAST WEEK, YOUNGSTOWN THIS WEEK.

IS THERE A STRATEGY THERE, MARK?

WHERE THEY FIND THEY CAN HAVE THE MOST INFLUENCE?

>> THEY ARE STAYING AWAY FROM THE BLUEST AREAS.

THEY WANT TO GET AS MANY BODIES TO THE PLACE AS POSSIBLE.

WE NEED THEM TO TURN OUT THE VOTE.

TEXTING THEM, THAT SORT OF THINGS.

>> DON'T WANT EMPTY SEATS.

NOT A GOOD LOOK.

>> RIGHT.

>> IN THE RACE FOR SENATE, THE ADS ARE NONSTOP.

THE HUSTON AND BROWN CAMPAIGNS ARE POURING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO THIS RACE.

AS FOR WHETHER THAT GARGANTUAN INVESTMENT IS PAYING OFF, WHO KNOWS.

A FEW POLLS OUT THIS WEEK SHOW SHERROD BROWN WITH A SLIGHT LEAD.

IT SHOWS BROWN WITH A SLIGHT LEAD OVER JON HUSTED MEANING THE RACE REMAINS A TOSS UP AT THIS POINT.

SO I'M NOT SURE THE ADS, IT'S A WASH.

SO WHAT'S GOING TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS MARIA?

>> I THINK THE GET OUT THE VOTE OPERATION WILL BE THE DIFFERENCE.

AND AGAIN, APPEALING TO THOSE INDEPENDENT VOTERS.

AGAIN, RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE ONE OF THE PARTIES, ONE OF THE CANDIDATES, HE HAS BEEN IN OFFICE IN OHIO FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND HIS RECORD IS MOSTLY HELPING DATA CENTERS, GIVING TAX BREAKS TO CORPORATIONS AND BEING THE INSIDE GUY FOR FIRST ENERGY.

ON THE OTHER HAND, WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN AROUND SEVERAL DECADES BUT THE ONLY THING THEY ARE POINTING TO IS HE HAS BEEN AROUND A WHILE.

>> IS JON HUSTED DOING A GOOD JOB COUNTERING THAT?

HE IS DOING MORE POSITIVE ADS.

HIS WIFE IS IN ONE OF THE ADS.

>> JON IS NOT VERY WELL KNOWN.

HE HAS BEEN IN OFFICE A LITTLE WHILE.

NOT AS LONG AS SHERROD BROWN WHO WAS FIRST IN OFFICE WHEN GERALD FORD WAS PRESIDENT AND CONTINUE TO BE THE CANDIDATE FOR CHANGE.

MAYBE I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO FINDS THAT IRONIC.

BUT JON HUSTED HAS MORE OF A STORY THE TELL BECAUSE HE IS NEWER.

BROWN CONSISTENTLY VOTED ONE OF THE MOST LIBERAL IF NOT THE MOST LIBERAL MEMBERS OF THE SENATE, WANTS TO GO BACK.

HE IS PRETTY WELL KNOWN AND WAS REJECTED LAST TIME.

IF REPUBLICANS TURN OUT, BROWN WILL BE RETIRED ONCE APP FOR ALL.

>> CANDIDATES USUALLY RUN THE BIOGRAPHICAL ADS AT THE START.

HE IS REALLY LEANING INTO THE POSITIVE ADS, JON HUSTED.

>> ONE THING TO REMEMBER IS THE LAST TIME THAT BROWN WAS ON THE BALLOT WAS WHEN TRUMP WAS ON THE BALLOT.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE VOTING FOR TRUMP OBVIOUSLY, AND VOTING FOR, OR VOTING AGAINST SHERROD BROWN.

ANYWAY, HE DID BETTER ON THE BALLOT.

>> THAN KAMALA HARRIS DID.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THAT IS SOMETHING TO REMEMBER.

HE HAD A SPLIT VOTE THERE.

IT COULD BE WE WILL SEE THAT AGAIN.

WE MIGHT SEE HIM GET SPLIT VOTES OR WE MIGHT SEE IT GO THE OTHER WAY, TOO.

>> ARE DEMOCRATS REALLY EXCITED TO VOTE FOR SHERROD BROWN?

>> HONESTLY, HE IS ONE OF THE POLITICIANS I HAVE SPECIFIC NICE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT.

I HAVE BEEN IN ISSUE ADVOCACY FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

NOT PARTISAN POLITICS SO I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE D VERSUS R FIGHT BUT HE HAS DONE A LOT OF COMMUNITY OUT REACH.

HE HAS MET PEOPLE.

WRITTEN LETTERS.

SHOWN HIMSELF TO AT LEAST BE SINCERE AND AGAIN, WHEN THE THINGS PEOPLE ARE CRAVING ARE HOLDING TRUMP ACCOUNTABLE, HE DOES WELL.

>> MAINE SENATE DEBATE.

WHY ARE THESE TWO GUYS NOT DEBATING?

>> WE ARE SEEING LESS AND LESS DEBATING.

KEITH IS A CLIENT.

HE AND JOHN WILL BE DEBATING.

THEY MIGHT BE THE ONLY STATEWIDES DOING IT.

AS PEOPLE'S ATTENTION MOVES AWAY FROM NETWORK TV SHOWS OTHER THAN TUNING IN OTHER WEEK OF COURSE TO WATCH COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD, IT'S HARDER TO GET AN AUDIENCE FOR DEBATES.

SO MORE AND MORE POLITICIANS ARE SAYING.

AMY ATKINS.

ALL PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT HER IS SHE WAS THE FACE OF THE SHUTDOWN DURING COVID AND FORCED VACCINATIONS.

YOU WOULD THINK SHE WOULD WANT TO DEBATE TO TELL PEOPLE WHY THAT IS NOT TRUE.

BUT SHE HAS REFUSED TO SO FAR.

>> PEOPLE DON'T WATCH THE DEBATE, BUT THEY SEE THE CLIPS, TIKTOK VIDEOS, INSTAGRAM REELS.

THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> JOE BIDEN DROPPED OUT OF THE RACE BECAUSE OF A DEBATE PERFORMANCE.

THAT WAS A KEY ISSUE.

BUT YOU KNOW, WITH AMY ACTON, I HAVE ASKED HER WHY SHE IS NOT DEBATING AND THE QUESTION IS ALWAYS ANSWERED WITH SHE REALLY FEELS LIKE SHE HAS BEEN MALIGNED BY VIVEK RAMASWAMY PERSONALLY.

HER FAMILY HAS BEEN ATTACKED BY HIM.

AND A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID, SHE FEELS SHE COULDN'T GO ON A DEBATE STAGE WITH HIM AND HAVE A DIALOGUE THAT WOULD BE NOT PERSONAL.

IT WOULDN'T BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE FOCUSED ON WHAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO DO IN OFFICE.

>> LET'S GET TO THE PERSONAL NATURE OF THAT CAMPAIGN.

WHEN YOU SEE THEM ON THE STUMP AND MEET THEM IN PERSON, AMY ACTON AND VIVEK RAMASWAMY SEEM LIKE PLEASANT PEOPLE.

THE OHIO GOVERNOR'S RACE MAY BE THE UGHIEST IN THE COUNTRY ACCORDING TO THE NEW YORK TIMES.

VIVEK RAMASWAMY REPORTING PACS THAT SAY ACTON IS UNHINGED.

ACTON'S ADDS CALL VIVEK RAMASWAMY A CON MAN.

FACT CHECKERS HAVE CALLED THE ADS POLITELY EXAGGERATED AND MISLEADING AT BEST.

VIVEK RAMASWAMY AND HIS SUPPORTERS ARE RUNNING A LOT MORE OF THESE ADS BUT THE RACE REMAINS TIGHT.

THE REAL CLEAR POLLING AVERAGE OF POLLS IN THIS RACE HAS ACTON WITH A FOUR-POINT LEAD, 48% TO 44%.

AMONG MOST LIKELY VOTERS IN THE SURVEY OF POLLS.

YOU HAVE COFFERED A LOT OF THESE ELECTIONS.

HAVE YOU SEEN ONE THIS NASTY?

>> I DID.

BACK IN 2002 I BELIEVE IT WAS WHEN ALICE ROBY REZNEC WAS RUNNING, IT BECAME VERY NASTY AND PERSONAL.

AT LEAST BACK THEN, IT WAS A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TAME CAME OUT HITTING HER HARD.

THEIR PAC.

I THINK THERE IS A CERTAIN POINT AS FAR AS BEING NASTY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS A FEMALE CANDIDATE.

ONCE YOU CROSS THAT LINE, VOTERS THINK DIFFERENTLY.

>> IS GENDER PLAYING A ROLE IN THE NASTINESS OR IS IT JUST THAT THESE ARE TWO SIDE THAT'S WANT THIS JOB?

>> I THINK GENDER ALWAYS PLAYS A ROLE IN POLITICS.

THAT'S JUST A REALITY.

BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE AGAIN NEWER NAMES TO OHIOANS, THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO FIND YOUR OPPOSITION, A LOT OF STEREO TYPES TO LEAN INTO.

I THINK THEY BOTH PULL SKELETONS OUT OF EACH OTHER'S CLOSETS BUT IF THEY ARE ONLY FINDING 33-YEAR-OLD TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS, THEY ARE NOT DOING A GREAT JOB.

>> WHAT DOES THIS DO TO TURNOUT?

THERE ARE NONSTOP ADS AND MANY OF THEM ARE CARTOONISHLY OUTRAGEOUS.

>> ALL THE RESEARCH SHOWS THE NEGATIVE ADS DEPRESS TURNOUT BUT THE NOTION IT IS NEW IS NOT RIGHT.

IT WAS JOHN A. DAUGHTER AND SON AND THOMAS JEFFERSON RUNNING AGAINST EACH OTHER.

JOHN ADAMS AND THOMAS JEFFERSON WAS ONE OF THE NASTIEST CAMPAIGNS IN HISTORY.

IT GETS VERY UPSETTING IN THE LAST MONTH.

AS I LISTEN TO JO DESCRIBE WHAT AMY ACTON'S FEELINGS WERE, EVERYONE FEELS THAT WAY ABOUT THEIR OPPONENT.

YET NEARLY ALL OF THEM WILL TAKE THE DEBATE STAGE AND ANSWER QUESTIONS TO VOTERS.

AND TO REPORTERS ABOUT THEIR RECORD.

AND IT IS FRUSTRATING SHE WON'T DO THAT.

>> IS IT BECAUSE SHE IS LEADING?

>> SOMETIMES THAT'S THE CASE.

BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR HER TO NOT DEBATE.

WHEN THERE A BIG LEAD, THAT'S PART OF THE CONSIDERATION.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE POLLS, I READ AN OP ED THAT SAYS IT IS HARD TO POLL REPUBLICANS RIGHT NOW.

THEY ARE MUCH LESS LIKESLY TO TALK TO POLLSTERS, PARTICULARLY SINCE REPUBLICANS TEND TO BE LESS COLLEGE EDUCATED.

SOME OF THESE POLLS ARE GOING TO BE WAY OFF.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE POLLS WERE JUST REALLY WRONG.

>> THERE ARE MARGINS OF ERRORS, ALWAYS IN THE FOUR-AND-A-HALF RANGE.

THEY TRY TO WEIGHT THEM.

IT IS INCREDIBLY HARD TO DO POLLING NOW.

COULD AMY ACTON HAVE ANSWERED THESE FROM THE INCIDENT IN 2019 WHEN THE POLICE CAME TO HER HOUSE.

SHOULD SHE HAVE HANDLED IT DIFFERENTLY OR DID SHE HANDLE IT DIRECTLY?

>> SHOULD HER HUSBAND OR DAUGHTER DO AN AD SAYING THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED?

>> I THINK IT IS IS REALLY HARD FOR ANYONE IN POLITICS, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WHO ARE NEWER WHO SAY HOW ABOUT WAS PET YOUR WHOLE FAMILY IN THE LYME LIGHT WHILE YOU ARE BEING ATTACKED.

I GET SHE WOULD WANT TO KEEP THEM OUT OF IT AND KEEP IT ON THE FOLKS ACTUALLY IN THIS RACE AND I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A RISK AVERS TO NOT DEBATING.

I ALSO KIND OF WISH THERE WAS A DEBATE BUT I UNDERSTAND WHEN YOUR OPPONENT IS A REALLY GOOD LIAR.

HOW THEY WOULD WANT TO AVOID THAT RISK.

>> IT'S A STYLE DIFFERENCE.

HE IS VERY GOOD ON THE STUMP.

HE WILL BE MORE POLISHED THAN SHE IS ON THE DEBATE STAGE.

>> SHE WAS THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DIRECTOR.

SHE IS A DOCTOR.

SHE IS NOT SOMEONE WHO WAS KNOWN FOR HER GREAT ORATOR SKILLS.

THAT IS NOT HER STRENGTH N. THAT CONTEXT, IT MAKES SENSE THIS WOULDN'T PLAY TO HER STRENGTH BUT THE QUESTION IS WHO WILL GOVERN BET BETTER?

I DON'T CARE WHO DEBATES BETTER.

>> THE IDEA IS TO GET ON THE STAGE AND LEAD PEOPLE IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION WHETHER IT IS LEGISLATURES YOU WANT TO VOTE FOR YOUR BILL OR FOR OHIOANS TO GET BEHIND YOUR BILL.

IT'S NOT THE ONLY PART OF LEADING BUT THE BIG PART OF LEADING.

>> THE LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE, PEOPLE SAY HE COULD BE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

BUT WE HAVE NOT SEEN MUCH OF HIM.

SOME OF THESE POLLS ARE NOT ASKING ABOUT HIM.

IS IT GOING TO BE A FACTOR?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

THAT REMAIN TO BE SEEN, WE HAVEN'T SEEN LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATES BRING IN THAT MANY VOTES TO SWAY AN ELECTION.

>> WHAT ABOUT VIVEK RAMASWAMY'S WEALTH?

HE GETS CRITICIZED FOR BEING AN OUT OF TOUCH BILLIONAIRE.

USING HIS PRIVATE JETS.

REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN QUOTED SAYING HE SHOULD LEAVE THE JET AT HOME AND START DRIVING AROUND THE STATE.

IT'S A BAD LOOK.

HE SAYS LOOK, I'M CELEBRATING SUCCESS.

>> THAT'S WHAT DONALD TRUMP DID.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT DONALD TRUMP SHOULD TRY TO GET HUMBLE AND SHOW HIS HARD SCRAMBLE BEGINNINGS WHERE HE WAS NOT AS WEALTHY AS HE IS NOW.

BUT WHAT HE SAID WAS THIS IS WHO I AM.

I'M GOING TO LEAN INTO IT.

VIVEK RAMASWAMY IS HOPING HE HAS ONLY TAKEN SUCCESSFUL PAGES FROM HIS PLAY BOOK.

>> HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS SPENT ON ADS.

HOW MUCH OF THAT MONEY IS BEING SPENT ON GET OUT THE VOTE EFFORTS AND SHOULD THEY SPEND MORE MARIA?

>> IT'S HARD TO SAY AS THE SORT OF SPENDING ECONOMY IS WHAT IT IS NOW.

THE ADS ARE A LOT MORE EXTENSIVE.

IT IS ALSO WE HAVE ALL THESE PACS, ALL OF THESE OTHER GROUPS DOING SOMETHING.

SO, CUMULATIVELY, WHO HAS MORE IS REALLY HARD TO SAY.

>> FOR SOME OHIOANS, THEY NO LONGER HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE NASTY ADS BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALREADY VOTED.

EARLY VOTING BEGAN TUESDAY.

IN PERSON BALLOTING GOT OFF TO A BRISK START.

BUT IT IS VERY EARLY.

INDICATIONS ARE MAIL-IN BALLOTING MAY BE DOWN THIS CYCLE AS SIGNALS STATEWIDE, APPLICATIONS FOR MAIL-IN BALLOTS ARE OFF SOME 26%.

WHEN COMPARED TO THE LAST MIDTERM ELECTION FOUR YEARS AGO.

EXPERTS MAY BE BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE AREMENT OING TO VOTE IN PERSON.

IT MAY BE BECAUSE PRESIDENT TRUMP TRIED TO LIMIT THE VOTING BEFORE THE COURT STOPPED HIM OR IT MAY BE THAT OVERALL VOTER TURNOUT IS JUST DOWN AND PEOPLE DON'T PLAN TO VOTE IN ANY FORM OR FASHION.

JO, WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR WHEN YOU START TO SEE EARLY VOTING NUMBERS?

>> YOU DON'T SEE THE VOTES UNTIL ELECTION NIGHT.

BUT WHO IS VOTING?

>> TYPICALLY, IT SIGNIFIES ENTHUSIASM OF VOTERS.

WHEN YOU SEE A LOT.

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE LOOKING AT 22 VERSUS 24.

THE MAIL-IN IS NOT UP.

SO THAT SIGNIFIES MAYBE PEOPLE ARE SAYING WE ARE NOT GOING TO VOTE MY BY MAIL.

AND YOU HAVE THREE WEEKS YOU CAN WALK INTO A BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND CAST A BALLOT IN PERSON.

>> THE DROP OFF IS LARGELY A VESTAGE OF PEOPLE NOT WANTING TO GO OUT.

THE POST COVID ERA.

I'M PLEASED THE PRESIDENT IS OUT THERE SAYING GO AHEAD AND VOTE EARLY.

VOTE BY MAIL.

THERE ARE SOME POTENTIAL FOR VOTER FRAUD AND VOTE BY MAIL.

THE BIPARTISAN COMMISSION FOUND THAT.

IN OHIO, WE DO PRETTY WELL.

>> FOR WEEKS HE WAS SAYING GET RID OF VOTE BY MAIL AND TRYING TO GET THE POST OFFICE.

>> BECAUSE OF THE BAKER CAR COMMISSION.

WHICH IS BIPARTISAN.

IT'S TRUE THAT IT IS LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE GETTING MAIL BALLOTS SENT TO THEM THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SENT TO THEM.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULDN'T DO IT.

>> THEY ARE GETTING APPLICATIONS.

NOT BALLOTS, TO BE CLEAR.

>> WE GOT THE APPLICATION.

WE ALL GOT THEM ABOUT A MONTH AGO.

HOW DO YOU LEAD IN?

IT IS NOT JUST THE RURAL AREAS, THE URBAN AREAS.

THE SIGNAL IS ACROSS THE BOARD.

RURAL, URBAN, IT'S ALL DOWN.

>> IT IS REALLY HARD WHEN ONE LINE GOES UP AND THE OTHER GOES DOWN.

IT IS HARD TO SAY WHAT THAT SAYS AT A LARGER LEVEL.

TO SOME DEGREE WE WILL SEE WHEN THE VOTES ARE COUNTED.

BUT THE MAIN SIGNAL IS VOTER ENTHUSIASM.

>> IN THE PAST, PRIVATE GROUPS, THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE OFFICE SENDS OUT THAT APPLICATION.

BUT GROUPS WITH TARGETS.

THEY WOULD SEND THEM OFFICIAL APPLICATIONS AS WELL.

ARE GROUPS DOING THAT?

>> CERTAINLY ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

WE CALL THAT PREDICTIVE BALLOTING.

IF YOU KNOW THEY ARE LIKELY TO VOTE FOR YOUR CANDIDATE, YOU CAN PREDICTIVELY SEND THEM AN APPLICATION FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT.

SO WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

>> IN THE SAME RATE AS IN THE PAST?

>> IT DEPENDS ON THE CAMPAIGN.

FOR EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING THAT TENDS TO SKEW HEAVILY DEMOCRAT.

LARGELY BECAUSE AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCHES HAVE A SURGE TO THE POLL INITIATIVE.

>> WILL WE SEE THE SOULS TO THE POLLS EFFORT THIS TIME AROUND?

THE LAST SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1st, DEMOCRATS, WE SEE THE BIG EFFORT THERE?

>> YES.

THERE WILL BE A HUGE SOULS TO THE POLLS AND A LOT OF GET OUT THE VOTE PROGRAMMING ON THE DEMOCRAT SIDE.

>> DOOR KNOCKING?

PEOPLE ARE VOTING NOW.

WE WILL SEE MORE OF THAT AS WELL.

>> YEAH.

JUST THIS WEEK, SARA DONALDSON WENT OUT WITH THE AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY AND THEY WERE DOOR KNOCKING FOR THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.

WE HAVE SEEN IT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT IS JUST GOING TO BE HAPPENING.

AND IT MAY NOT BE SOME GREAT BIG THING.

BUT DEFINITELY IN CERTAIN DISTRICTS THEY ARE ACTIVE.

>> WHAT IS THE NUMBER YOU ARE LOOKING AT, MARK?

>> I'M MOSTLY INTERESTED IN HOW PEOPLE ARE SENDING IN THEIR MAIL IN VOTERS.

BUT OUR BIG THING IS IDENTIFYING VOTERS AND TURNING THEM OUT EITHER THROUGH ABSENTEE BALLOTING OR TO THE POLLS.

>> MARIA?

THE SAME?

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR, FOR TRENDS?

>> I'M LOOKING FOR THE EARLY IN PERSON.

IT IT IS MORE EFFORT TO GO AND SHOW UP TO VOTE.

IF PEOPLE ARE DOING THAT EN MASSE, YOU CAN ASSUME THEY ARE EXCITED.

>> THE EARLY VOTING LINES WILL BE HOURS LONG.

ON ELECTION DAY, SAIL IN AND SAIL OUT.

BETTER THAN FOUR WHERE PEOPLE SPENT HOURS.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE SYSTEM WE HAVE NOW.

ANYWAY, TIME FOR OUR FINAL OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOTS.

MARK WEAVER?

>> LOCAL REPORTING SUGGESTED COUNTY COMMISSIONER ERICA CAULI WAS GETTING VIP TICKETS TO THE CONCERT AND PARKING TICKETS.

SHE WILL PROBABLY NEED A GOOD ETHICS LAWYER.

>> I'M THINKING OF THE ROOSTER CASE.

DJ BURNS SENT A LEWD PICTURE OF SHREK TO SENATOR SARINO.

WE SAW SENATOR SARINO GET CROSS EXAMINED TO GET THE ARREST RECORD.

I DON'T THINK THAT STORY IS OVER THOUGH WE SAW IT RULING TODAY.

>> IT IS OVER FOR ME.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE STORIES THIS WEEK WAS THE LIBERTARIAN BEGAN FOR GOVERNOR AND SECRETARY OF STATE WERE OUT ON THE RIVER SHOOTING A CAMPAIGN COMMERCIAL AND THEY WITNESSED A SITUATION WHERE THEY FOUND A DEAD BODY IN THE RIVER.

AND YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW, MUCH ABOUT THAT, BUT BOY, THAT'S A WEIRD STORY.

>> PRETTY SAD.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENED THERE.

>> YEAH.

>> THERE IS ONE WAY TO EASE THE UGLINESS OF THIS CAMPAIGN.

GOOD BEER, AND A FRIENDLY DISCUSSION.

THAT'S WHAT WE'LL OFFER LATER THIS MONTH WHEN WOSU HOSTS OUR LATEST INSTALLMENT OF POLITICS AND A PINT.

PLEASE JOIN US WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 21st AT EDISON BREWING.

I'LL BE THERE ALONG WITH AMY JURVIC.

IT'S A GREAT TIME IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO ONE BEFORE.

IT'S REALLY FUN AND A GREAT WAY TO TALK POLITICS IN A FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE.

GO TO WOSU.

ORG/EVENTS TO REGISTER.

THAT IS COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD THIS WEEK.

A REMINDER, CHECK US OUT ON THE WOSU YOUTUBE PAGE.

THERE YOU CAN SEE AND SHARE EVERY EPISODE OF THIS PROGRAM.

A LOT OF OTHER WOSU NEWS CONTENT THERE AS WELL.

GO TO YOUTUBE, SEARCH WOSU NEWS AND THERE IT IS.

YOU CAN ALSO WATCH US ON YOUR TIME ANY TIME AT OUR WEBSITE, WOSU.

ORG.

AND THROUGH OUR PBS APP.

FOR OUR CREW AND CAST, I'M MIKE THOMPSON, HAVE A GOOD WEEK!