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

GASOLINE PRICES IN CENTRAL OHIO HIT $4.

50 A GALLON THIS WEEK, THAT IS WAY UP FROM WHERE THEY WERE LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME, DIESEL PRICES ARE WORSE.

FOR FARMERS AND TRUCKERS, THEY ARE PAYING A LOT MORE.

SO, THIS WEEK, IN AN EFFORT TO BLUNT THE SPIKE AND SHOW THEY CARE ABOUT RISING PRICES, BOTH CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR CALLED FOR A SUSPENSION OF OHIO'S GASOLINE TAX.

FIRST, AMY ACTON CALLED FOR THE GAS TAX HOLIDAY, BUT OFFERED NO SPECIFICS.

LATER THAT SAME DAY, VIVEK RAMASWAMY OFFERED A DETAILED PLAN FOR A 90 DAY SUSPENSION.

HE HAS THE SUPPORT OF LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, PLANNING TO BRING LAWMAKERS BACK TO COLUMBUS FOR A SPECIAL SESSION NEXT WEEK TO VOTE ON IT BUT IF PASSED, IT WOULD SAVE DRIVERS 38 1/2 CENTS PER GALLON BUT AT LAST WEEK'S PRICES, THAT IS ABOUT A 9% DISCOUNT POINT OF COURSE, GAS PRICES ARE HIGH BECAUSE OF THE IRAN WAR PRESIDENT TRUMP STARTED, AND HIS GAS TAX ANNOUNCEMENT, RAMASWAMY WAS ASKED ABOUT THE WAR.

>> MY JOB IS NOT TO SET U. S. FOREIGN POLICY, MY JOB IS TO SERVE THE NEARLY 12 MILLION PEOPLE OF OUR STATE, SO THEY CAN LIVE A BETTER LIFE IN THE FACE OF ALL KINDS OF CHALLENGES THAT WE MAY FACE AND CONTINUE TO FACE ON THE GLOBAL STAGE.

EVERYONE WOULD RATHER NOT HAVE THAT WAR, CERTAINLY, EVERY AMERICAN IS PROBABLY IN THAT CAMP, BUT THE QUESTION IS THAT IS A COMPLEX AFFAIR OUTSIDE OF WHAT THE OHIO GOVERNOR CAN DELIVER ON.

WHAT CAN THE OHIO GOVERNOR DELIVER ON?

IN THE FACE OF THOSE CHALLENGES, HOW DO WE IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE HERE?

>> WE WELCOME OUR PANELISTS, ANDREW TOBIAS FROM SIGNAL STATEWIDE, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST, MIKE GONIDAKIS, AND HERB ASHER.

MIKE, WE START WITH YOU, IT IS AN OBVIOUS ATTEMPT BY THE CANDIDATES TO SHOW VOTERS THEY CARE ABOUT GAS PRICES, KASICH COURSE [ INAUDIBLE ]?

>> GAS PRICES AND FOOD PRICES, INTERCHANGEABLE ON ANY GIVEN DAY, CAN'T AFFORD TO FILL UP OUR TANKS, SO WHAT WE ARE SEEING HERE IS THE 38.

5 POINT CENTS PER GALLON IS REALLY GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE FOR YOURS?

PROBABLY NOT, BUT IT SENDS A SIGNAL TO OHIO VOTERS WHAT CAN BE IF YOU ELECT VIVEK RAMASWAMY WITH A REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE, BECAUSE THAT IS JUST TIP OF THE ICEBERG STUFF.

THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO WITH THE SPEAKER AND THE NEXT SENATE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO BE TRANSFORMATIONAL, SO I THINK IT IS A GOOD THING.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] SAID WE SHOULD HAVE A GAS TAX HOLIDAY.

WHERE IS THE BEEF.

>> DOES NOT REMIND VOTERS THAT IT IS A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT THAT CAUSED THE GAS PRICES TO RISE POINT >> THERE IS NO HIDING BEHIND THAT, PRESIDENT TRUMP STARTED THE WAR IN IRAN AND OUR GAS PRICES ARE HIGHER BECAUSE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP, THAT IS A FACT, YOU CAN'T RUN AWAY FROM IT POINT BUT AS VIVEK RAMASWAMY SAID IN YOUR CLIP EARLIER, [ INAUDIBLE ], BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO?

THIS IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG, SO I APPLAUD VIVEK RAMASWAMY, WHAT YOU DID IS THE RIGHT THING, HOPEFULLY HE CAN PASS AND THE START OF SOMETHING GREAT.

>> GAS PRICES JUMP UP AND DOWN, MAYBE NOT $.

40 IN A FEW DAYS, BUT BY THE TIME THAT TAKES EFFECT, MAYBE A WEEK OR TWO FROM NOW, THE GAS MIGHT BE DOWN TO $4.

25, WHILE THE AVERAGE EVEN NOTICE THIS?

>> BOTH CANDIDATES HAVE DONE IT, AND IF I WERE VIVEK AND HAD THIS BIG SHOW NEXT WEEK WITH THE LEGISLATURE, AND LET'S SAY I AM PASSING IT, I WOULDN'T TALK ABOUT IT TOO MUCH, BECAUSE THE MORE YOU TALK ABOUT IT, THE MORE YOU LINK YOURSELF TO IN FACT INFLATION AND GAS PRICES AND PRESIDENT TRUMP AND ALL THAT.

SO, IT'S CERTAINLY NICE FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE A LITTLE BREAK, BUT IT IS GOING TO BE AMAZING IF THAT HAPPENS AND YOU'RE STILL PAYING MORE THAN FOUR DOLLARS A GALLON FOR GAS, SO I THINK IT'S A MIXED BLESSING, BUT SINCE BOTH CANDIDATES HAVE ENDORSED IT, IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO MAKE IT A PART OF THE BATTLE, BUT I THINK VIVEK NEEDS TO BE CAREFUL, THE MORE HE CLAIMS, THE MORE LINKS HIMSELF TO THE HIGH PRICES.

>> ANDREW, MOST LAWS TAKE 90 DAYS TO GO INTO EFFECT, UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY.

WHETHER GAS PRICES ARE AN EMERGENCY IS A SEPARATE POINT, BUT [ INAUDIBLE ], SAY IT'S AN EMERGENCY, IT GOES INTO EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

MIGHT THE DEMOCRATS KIND OF FORETHOUGHT A LITTLE BIT, VOTE NO?

>> SO, YEAH, THEY NEED, I THINK, THREE DEMOCRATS, ASSUMING THEY GET EVERY REPUBLICAN OUT OF COLUMBUS, WHICH IS NOT A GIVEN, AND SO, DEMOCRATS WERE ASKED ABOUT THIS, THE HOUSE IN PARTICULAR, AND THE MINORITY LEADER ISAACSON SAID THAT THE REPUBLICANS SHOULD INSTEAD OF RAIDING THE STATE'S RAINY DAY FUND TO PAY FOR THIS, TAKE THE MONEY FROM THE CLEVELAND BROWNS TO BUILD A NEW SPORTS STADIUM.

THAT IS THEIR LINE, IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THEY ARE EAGER TO COOPERATE WITH US, WHETHER OF YOUR THE DEMOCRATS FEEL PRESSURE ON WHETHER OR NOT TO TAKE A VOTE ABOUT CUTTING GAS PRICES, WE'LL SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

>> MIKE DeWINE WHEN HE FIRST BECAME GOVERNOR TOOK THE BOLD MOVE AND RAISED THE GAS TAX.

DOES HE SIGN THIS, MICHAEL?

>> I DON'T THINK HE CAN VISUALLY RAISE THE GAS TAX.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] >> SO, THERE ARE A LOT OF REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS THAT VOTED FOR A GAS TAX INCREASE BACK IN 2014, I BELIEVE.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] >> IN THE HOUSE.

DOES HE SIGN IT?

YOU SHOULD, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WHAT VIVEK DID AND SPEAKER HOFFMAN CORRECTLY SAID HERE IS WHERE WE ARE GOING TO FILL THE MONEY, THE MONEY THAT WE GIVE BACK TO OHIOANS IN THE FORM OF A TAX BREAK, HERE IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO FILL THAT GAP SO OUR ROADS JUST KEEP BEING BUILT.

THIS DRIVE ONTO 70 NORTH AND YOU KNOW WE NEED MORE MONEY TO FIX OUR ROADS, SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE IS A RESPONSIBLE PLAN IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE WE PAY FOR THE REPAIRS WE NEED, AND I HOPE AND PRAY GOVERNOR DeWINE SIGNS THAT POINT >> THE LEGISLATURE LOOKED AT THIS EARLIER THIS YEAR AND IT DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE.

[ INAUDIBLE ] WHY NOW?

TWO WEEKS BEFORE EARLY VOTING STARTS, SIX WEEKS BEFORE -- >> YOU ANSWERED YOUR OWN QUESTION POINT IT'S POLITICS AND TRYING TO WIN POINTS WITH THE VOTERS.

I THINK ABOUT 90 DAYS FROM NOW POINT >> BUT DO THEY HAVE POLLING TO SHOW THAT THINGS ARE REALLY GOING BAD?

>> WELL, YEAH, THEY HAVE POLLING THAT SHOWS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS IN TROUBLE IN THIS ELECTION, BUT I THINK WHAT THE POLLING IS REALLY SHOWING HIS DO SOMETHING.

SO, I THINK AS MIKE SAID, THEY'RE TRYING TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, BUT IMAGINE 90 DAYS FROM NOW WHEN GASOLINE PRICES HAVE GONE UP, AND THE GAS TAX HOLIDAY ENDS, AND YOU'RE NOT PUSHING GASOLINE UP TO OVER FIVE DOLLARS A GALLON.

NOT A WINNER.

>> ALL RIGHT, MANY BELIEVE THE CRYPTO INDUSTRY HELPED BERNIE MORENO TO SEE [ INAUDIBLE ].

FOR U. S. SENATE IN THE FINAL WEEK, WHO WON BY A FAIRLY SMALL MARGIN BY OHIO STANDARDS.

WELL, JUST AS SHERROD BROWN IS BACK, CRYPTO MONEY IS BACK.

THE LEADING CRYPTO PAC FAIRSHAKE CLOSED THIS WEEK, IT WOULD SPEND $30 MILLION IN OHIO TO DEFEAT SHERROD BROWN.

HE HAS REPORTED TOUGHER RULES ON CRYPTO.

THOUGH EARLIER THIS YEAR, HE SEEMED TO SOFTEN HIS STANCE ON CRYPTO REGULATION BUT ANDREW TOBIAS, TWO YEARS AGO, SHERROD BROWN SAID BRING THEM ON, TALKING ABOUT THE CRYPTO PAC POINT THIS YEAR, HE SAID AN OPEN MIND ON CRYPTO BUT IT DIDN'T WORK, THEY'RE COMING ANYWAY.

>> CLOSED PRETTY QUICKLY THIS WEEK AFTER THEY ANNOUNCED THE BILLIONAIRES COMING AFTER HIM AND TRYING TO PROP UP JON HUSTED, THAT WAS HIS LINE ABOUT IT NOW.

WE WILL SEE.

I THINK WHAT WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT ABOUT THE LAST ELECTION, THAT THE SPENDING WAS PRETTY EQUAL AND THIS MONEY CAME IN LATE, AND KIND OF, YOU KNOW, I THINK MATERIALLY HELPED OUT BERNIE PARETO IN THE END.

THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON IN THIS ELECTION, SO MUCH TV AS WE HAVE SEEN IN OHIO ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, I'M NOT SURE IT MAKES THAT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE WHEN I SAW A POLITICAL AD FROM HERE IN COLUMBUS JUST POSTED THE 4:00 TO 6:00 A. M. BLOCK OF ADD SOME ONE OF THE LOCAL TV NETWORKS, IT IS BACK TO BACK TO BACK ADDS, IT IS 15 TO 20 OF THEM ON POLITICS, SO IT IS GOING TO BE JUST ONE MORE DROP IN THE BUCKET WHEN IT COMES POINT PEOPLE ARE JUST GETTING HAMMERED BY THESE THINGS.

>> THEY DON'T TELL CRYPTO, THEY WILL BE TOUTING JON HUSTED AS A TOUTED BERNIE TWO YEARS AGO.

BUT [ INAUDIBLE ], THE VOTERS ARE VERY MUCH ANTI-TECHNOLOGY, THEIR ANTI-BILLIONAIRE, CAN SHERROD BROWN USE THIS TO HIS ADVANTAGE AND COULDN'T BACKFIRE ON CRYPTO AND JON HUSTED?

>> I DON'T SEE IT BACKFIRING AT ALL.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A BILLION- DOLLAR BASE WHEN IT IS ALL SAID AND DONE, AND I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M GOING TO SAY THIS, BUT 30 MILLION, DOES THAT REALLY MOVE THE NEEDLE WHEN THERE ARE ADS EVERY HALF HOUR ON TV?

I SAY NOT.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT BE A BILLIONAIRE FOR BROWN, A BILLIONAIRE FOR HUSTED, MONEY AND POLITICS HAS ALWAYS REMAINED.

THE AD THAT IS BEING RUN OBVIOUSLY DOESN'T TALK ABOUT CRYPTO, BUT IF YOU'RE IN AN INDUSTRY THAT A POLITICAL CANDIDATE DOESN'T LIKE, THEN OF COURSE YOU'RE GOING TO BE FOR THE OTHER GUY.

CRYPTO IS GOING TO BE FOR JON HUSTED.

LET'S MAKE NO MISTAKE, THE CRYPTO DIDN'T HELP BERNIE AT THE END OF THE DAY.

THEY WANTED A BETTER CANDIDATE AND OHIOANS CHOSE HIM.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] $40 MILLION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THAT CAMPAIGN?

>> WHEN IT'S A BILLION-DOLLAR CAMPAIGN, DOESN'T REALLY, DOES IT?

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] >> IT CERTAINLY COULD WORK BOTH WAYS.

MY THINKING IS THAT SHERROD BROWN'S INITIAL RESPONSE WAS EXACTLY THE WAY TO GO, TO SAY, LOOK, THE BILLIONAIRES ARE AFTER ME.

JUST POINT THAT OUT, AND I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT, MIKE, WHEN HE SAID THERE IS A LOT OF ANGER TOWARD BILLIONAIRES, A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT TECHNOLOGY, A WHOLE VARIETY OF THINGS OUT THERE, SO I THINK SHERROD BROWN CAN START TO TURN THIS AROUND, BUT I THINK AS MIKE SAID, YOU KNOW, THERE IS SO MUCH MONEY OUT THERE, AND NEITHER CANDIDATE WAS SUFFERING FROM A LACK OF FUNDS.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> YOU KNOW, CRYPTO LAST TIME DID A LOT OF POSITIVE ADS FOR BERNIE.

JON HUSTED IS STILL RELATIVELY UNKNOWN TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT HE IS BETTER KNOWN THEN BERNIE WAS TWO YEARS AGO.

>> HELD COUNTLESS STATEWIDE OFFICES, LOCAL OFFICES.

>> HOUSE SPEAKER POINT >> THE VOTERS LIKE HIM, THEY KEEP VOTING HIM IN OFFICE, THEY KNOW HIM.

BUT MIKE, THE BOTTOM LINE IS YOU HAVE GOT SHERROD BROWN, 40 YEARS -- >> 50 POINT >> WE WILL GO WITH 50.

AND I THINK VOTERS ARE --YOU KNOW, THEY STILL WANT CHANGE, THEY WANT LOWER GAS PRICES, THEY WANT LOWER FOOD PRICES, DON'T GET ME WRONG, BUT THEY DON'T WANT THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN BECAUSE YOU GET THE SAME RESULTS.

>> IN OTHER NEWS, SHERROD BROWN IS OUT WITH AN AD THAT ANSWERS ATTACK ADS AGAINST HIM FEATURING HIS SUPPORT OF TRANSIT RIGHTS.

>> HERE THEY GO AGAIN, THE SAME ATTACKS AGAINST SHERROD BROWN POINT >> WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON, THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT?

>> IN OHIO, IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO PERFORM TRANSGENDER SURGERY IS ON KIDS.

IT'S ILLEGAL.

>> THE GOES ON WITH ALLEGATIONS OF HOW JON HUSTED IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INFLATION, RISING GAS PRICES, BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM TWO YEARS AGO WHERE SHERROD BROWN REALLY CAME UNDER FIRE FOR HIS SUPPORT FOR TRANSIT RIGHTS IN ADS, AND HE IS STILL NOT SAYING HE IS OPPOSED TO TRANS RIGHTS, BUT AT LEAST HE IS ANSWERING THOSE ADS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, IF YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST, NOT JUST IN OHIO, BUT TREPANATION, WHAT ARE YOUR CANDIDATES GOING TO RUN ON?

ARE THEY GOING TO RUN ON THE ECONOMY?

NO.

ARE THEY GOING TO RUN ON HOW PROMINENT, RESPECTED AMERICA IS IN THE WORLD TODAY?

NO.

ARE THEY GOING TO RUN ON THE IRAN WAR?

NO.

SO WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO DO?

THEY HAVE TO SCARE PEOPLE ABOUT DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES, AND WHAT DO THEY SCARE THEM ABOUT?

IMMIGRATION, THE FROZEN BORDERS, ABOUT TRANS RIGHTS, ABOUT VOTER FRAUD, SO THIS IS ALL ABOUT EVERY STATE, NOT JUST SHERROD'S CAMPAIGN.

I THOUGHT HIS RESPONSE TO THAT AD WAS VERY GOOD IN THE SENSE THAT IT VERY QUICKLY GOT TWO OTHER ISSUES BUT >> IT WAS A PRETTY EFFECTIVE AD.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] AT THE END OF THE DAY, A TRANS ISSUE IN BOYS AND GIRLS SPORTS IS A 95 ISSUE, AT LEAST HERE IN OHIO.

WHY DID AMY ACT AND NOT COME OUT AND SAY [ INAUDIBLE ]?

AND THE DEMOCRAT PARTY IS PUSHING BACK ON HER, WHY DO THEY DO THAT?

[ INAUDIBLE ] YOUR BIGGEST VULNERABILITY IS AT ISSUE, SO OF COURSE JON HUSTED AND PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT THEM ARE GOING TO SAY, HEY, THIS IS WHO SHERROD BROWN REALLY IS.

>> ANDREW, IT WAS PRETTY TAME AS FAR AS TAKING A STANCE ON TRANS RIGHTS.

[ INAUDIBLE ] SAYS I AM NOT FOR BOYS PLAYING IN GIRLS SPORTS.

SHE SAYS SHE SIGNED OR COSPONSORED OR SIGNED ON OR VOTED FOR LEGISLATION THAT GAVE PARENTS MORE RIGHTS AND LESSONS ABOUT TRANSGENDER RIGHTS TAUGHT IN SCHOOL.

SHE WENT ON --ALL IN AS FAR AS TAMPING DOWN THE TRANS ISSUE.

>> THE WAY THAT SHE TALKED ABOUT IT IS THE WAY YOU MIGHT EXPECT A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE TO TALK ABOUT IT, FRANKLY, AND AS A RESULT, SHE IS FACING A LOT OF HEAT FROM HER LOCAL PARTY.

THE COUNTY ISSUED A STATEMENT, AN OPEN LETTER ASKING HER TO TAKE THE AD DOWN.

I INTERVIEWED THE PARTY CHAIR, SHE WAS UPSET, TO SAY THE LEAST, THAT SHE HAD TO DO THAT, GIVEN THE STAKES OF THE ELECTION AND THAT KIND OF THING, SO IT IS AN INTERESTING CONTRAST BETWEEN THE TWO CANDIDATES' APPROACHES.

THIS IS SHERROD SAYING HE DOESN'T WANT TO GO THERE, IT IS KIND OF LIKE A CHOICE HE COULD MAKE AND HE DECIDED NOT TO PICK >> MY QUESTION IS DO THE LUCAS COUNTY DEMOCRATS NOW VOTE FOR [ INAUDIBLE ]?

>> NO WEIGH IN HELL.

THE PARTY IS STILL ENCOURAGING VOTERS TO VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRAT.

SO, [ INAUDIBLE ]'S CAMPAIGN RESPONDED TO THIS, THEY ARE NOT TAKING THE AD DOWN, BUT THEY DID POINT OUT, [ INAUDIBLE ], IF YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT, WHICH ONE ARE YOU GOING TO CHOOSE?

AND SO, CLEARLY, [ INAUDIBLE ] HAS IN THE PAST GOTTEN ENDORSEMENTS FROM GROUPS LIKE QUALITY OHIO, LGBTQ RIGHTS GROUPS, THERE KIND OF FRAMING IT LIKE THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS IF YOU'RE A DEMOCRATIC VOTER WHEN IT COMES TO THESE ISSUES.

>> TOO FAR LEFT DEMOCRATS STAY HOME BECAUSE OF THESE POSITIONS ON TRANS RIGHTS?

IT'S NOT AT ALL.

[ INAUDIBLE ] THE ANGER AND THE ENTHUSIASM BOTH ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, WHY DO REPUBLICANS TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE, WHY DO THEY BRING IT UP?

BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO TALK ABOUT.

I MEAN, IT'S REALLY --I MEAN, HOW MUCH --WHATEVER YOUR POSITION, MOST PEOPLE POSE MEN PLAYING IN AN WOMEN'S SPORTS, BUT WHY TALK ABOUT THIS?

AND THE CANDIDATES DON'T SUPPORT UTILIZATION OR UTILIZATION OF KIDS, WHY DO THEY TALK ABOUT IT?

THEY HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO TALK ABOUT THAN THAT AND TRYING TO SCARE VOTERS POINT >> IN NORMAL YEARS, OHIO'S CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MEANS MOST RACES ARE NOT THAT COMPETITIVE.

REPUBLICANS HAVE THE ADVANTAGE WITH MORE SAFE DISTRICTS THAN DEMOCRATS HAVE, BUT HISTORIC TRENDS AND PRESIDENT TRUMP'S UNPOPULARITY OF DEMOCRATS DREAMING OF [ INAUDIBLE ] .

1 SPOT IS A SAFE, IT IS CONGRESSMAN MAX MILLER OF THE CLEVELAND AREA, HE FACES DOMESTIC STRIFE AND A TOUGH CHALLENGE DEMOCRAT BRIAN POINDEXTER.

HERE IN CENTRAL OHIO, CAREY IS THE FAVORITE, BUT HE IS RUNNING AN ATTACK AD AGAINST OPPONENT DON LEONARD, INDICATING THAT RACE MIGHT BE A LITTLE CLOSER THAN ONCE THOUGHT.

ANDREW TOBIAS, I MEAN, ARE DEMOCRATS DREAMING IN THESE DISTRICTS THAT DO FAVOR REPUBLICANS, BUT IN A WAY THAT YEAR, THEY MIGHT PICK UP ONE OR TWO?

>> SO, THERE IS A GROUP THAT IS FUNDED BY A LEFT-WING --I GUESS YOU COULD CALL IT LEFT- WING, DARK MONEY GROUP THAT FUNDS POLITICAL CAUSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THEY DROPPED A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ON CONGRESSIONAL RACES HERE IN OHIO, AND WE HAVE SEEN SINCE THEN DONALD TRUMP'S PACK PUT MONEY IN THE SAME RACES.

I WONDER WHAT THEY ARE SEEING, YOU KNOW, MIKE TURNER'S DISTRICT AT ABOUT $750,000 OF ADS CLOSED THIS MONTH AGAINST HIM, AND SO, WHAT I HAVE HEARD, BUT I HAVE TALKED TO REPUBLICANS ABOUT, KIND OF THE MARCHING ORDERS THEY ARE GETTING FROM NATIONAL REPUBLICANS IS TO RUN LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE, AND YOU KNOW, SO, IF I AM SOMEBODY CONTROLLING A LOT OF MONEY FOR DEMOCRATS ARE FOR DEMOCRATIC CAUSES, ARE WE TRYING TO MAKE NEW BATTLEGROUNDS, ARE WE TRYING TO GET REPUBLICANS TO PULL MONEY AWAY FROM MORE VULNERABLE REPUBLICANS TO PROTECT THESE PEOPLE LIKE MIKE TURNER AND MIKE CAREY?

IT'S KIND OF HARD TO TELL, BUT THE POLLING THIS MONTH AS DIESEL PRICES HAVE GONE UP, AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, HAS REALLY BROKEN FAVOR OF DEMOCRATS.

THERE WAS A REPUBLICAN AND I WHAT WAS REALLY FREAKED OUT, MAKING THE ROUNDS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SO IT IS AN OPEN QUESTION, BUT I DEFINITELY SEE MONEY GOING INTO DISTRICTS THAT SHOULDN'T BE COMPETITIVE ON PAPER.

>> MIKE CAREY HAS BEEN IN OFFICE SEVERAL YEARS NOW, DON LEONARD IS PRETTY MUCH UNKNOWN.

HE WON THE DEMOCRATIC RACE, BUT MAKE CAREY HAS SEEN SOMETHING, HE IS A LITTLE WORRIED BUT >> FULL DISCLOSURE, MIKE CAREY IS MY CONGRESSMAN, FULL DISCLOSURE ON THAT, I'M VOTING FOR HIM, MY WIFE IS, TOO.

BUT [ INAUDIBLE ].

SOME OF HILLIARD, CENTRAL OHIO, SOME DISTRICTS THAT ARE NO LONGER RED, THESE AREN'T RED CITIES, THEIR BLUE CITIES, I LIVE IN ONE OF THEM.

[ INAUDIBLE ] THE POPULATION BASIS IN THOSE CITIES, BUT IT'S A LOT OF RURAL LAND.

SO, I THINK YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED, JUST BECAUSE OF THE UNPOPULARITY OF THE PRESIDENT, THE GAS PRICES.

AS MY COLLEAGUES HERE HAVE SAID.

AND FOOD PRICES, SO I THINK IT'S SMART OF HIM JUST TO MAKE SURE THE VOTERS KNOW WHO DON IS VERSUS WHO HE IS BUT IS HE IN TROUBLE?

I DON'T THINK SO, BUT IT'S A CRAZY YEAR, YOU KNOW, AND ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN.

NEXT WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT THE GENERIC BALLOT AND WE DON'T VOTE FOR GENERIC CANDIDATES, SO I'M ALWAYS A LITTLE SKEPTICAL OF THAT, BUT THEY ARE PRETTY CONSISTENT.

YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATS ARE FAVORED BY ROUGHLY NINE POINTS IN A GENERIC BALLOT FOR CONGRESS, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

[ INAUDIBLE ] >> THE GENERIC BALLOT WAS PRETTY MUCH A GOOD PREDICTOR OF THE OVERALL OUTCOME, SO, WHEN IT GETS TO NINE OR 10, THAT STARTS PREDICTING MAYBE A WAVE ELECTION.

BUT WHAT CONTRADICTS THAT IS THAT SO MANY OF THE DISTRICTS ARE SO GERRYMANDERED, SO THAT --WELL, BOTH DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES HAVE SUCH A BUILT-IN MARGIN, SO THE QUESTION BECOMES CAN THE DEMOCRATS BENEFIT BY THIS?

AND I SAW ONE GENERIC THING AT THE 12 POINTS ACTUALLY, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN THE PATH PREDICTED , A MAJOR WAVE ELECTION, ARE THERE ENOUGH DISTRICTS IN WHICH THE MARGIN IS CLOSE ENOUGH THAT IF IN FACT THERE IS A SURGE, THE DEMOCRATS CAN IN FACT WIN?

AND I THINK --MAYBE YOU MENTIONED THE 7% BEFORE.

IF YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN WHO HAS A 7% DISTRICT, YOU SHOULD WORK HARD, YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED, YOU SHOULDN'T --BECAUSE THAT WAVE COULD REALLY OVERWHELM YOU.

IF YOU HAVE A 15 POINT LEAD, MARGIN, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE THAT SECRET >> REPUBLICANS WERE HOPING TO PICK UP A BIG LANDSMAN SEAT IN CINCINNATI, THE CALMEST MOMENT THERE, MARCI, WE TALKED ABOUT HER, ARE THEY STILL HOPEFUL THEY COULD PULL THOSE OFF?

THAT'S THE MOST DONALD TRUMP LEANING DISTRICT OF ANY DEMOCRATIC HELD DISTRICT IN THE COUNTRY.

I'M NOT --I'M SURE THEY'RE NOT FEELING ABOUT GREAT ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

REPUBLICAN LEANING DISTRICT, THE WAY THAT THEY REDREW IT, GIVEN THE ENVIRONMENT, I'M SURE THEY'RE NOT SUPER HOLDING THEIR BREATH ABOUT THAT ONE, BUT THERE IS MONEY BEING SENT IN THAT RACE, ERICA CONWAY, THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN THIS WEEK.

>> SO, LANDSMAN IS A FAVORITE DOWN THERE EVEN THOUGH IT IS LEANING A LITTLE BIT RED.

ALL RIGHT, TIME FOR SPORTS.

IN BUCKEYE COUNTRY AFTER OSU'S 59-3 WIN OVER KENT STATE LAST WEEK.

THE SCORE ILLUSTRATES THE WIDENING GAP WITHIN EVEN DIVISION I COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

A RECENT ANALYSIS BY THE ATHLETIC FOUND THAT OHIO STATE HAS THE BIGGEST BUDGET FOR PLAYERS.

THE PUBLICATION ESTIMATES OSU SPENDS UP TO $54 MILLION , FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY OREGON AND TEXAS.

CINCINNATI, THE UPPER GUESSTIMATES, SPENDS ABOUT A QUARTER OF THAT ON PLAYERS, $14 MILLION.

THE RULES FOR PAID BACK PLAYERS ARE VAGUE.

SCHOLARSHIPS, SPONSORSHIPS, UNIVERSITIES AND CONFERENCES ARE HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING CONTROL OF ALL THIS, SO THEY'RE ASKING CONGRESS TO MAKE THE RULES.

A LAW THAT WOULD INCLUDE A PLAYERS SALARY CAP AND WAS ON PLAYER TRANSFERS AND ALIGNMENT IS BEFORE LAWMAKERS IN D. C. IN YOUR CAREER AT OHIO STATE, [ INAUDIBLE ], HELPED REVISE ON POLICY.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS?

IS WHAT IS HAPPENING GOOD FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL, GOOD FOR COLLEGE SPORTS, AND GOOD FOR HIGHER EDUCATION?

>> CONGRESS BEING INVOLVED?

>> LOOK, I THINK ONE REASON THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT CONGRESS GETTING INVOLVED IS THE CONFERENCES AND UNIVERSITIES NEED SOMEBODY TO HELP PROTECT THEM FROM THEMSELVES.

I MEAN, IT HAS REALLY GOTTEN OUT OF HAND, AS YOU SAID, AND PARTICULARLY THE BIG TEN AND THE S. E. C. , HAVE TRIED TO EXERCISE --AND YOU KNOW, THEY ARE VERY POWERFUL, UNDUE INFLUENCE ON A WHOLE VARIETY OF THINGS, INCLUDING THE SHAPE OF THE PLAYOFFS, YEAH, SO I THINK CONGRESS GETTING INVOLVED HERE IS A WONDERFUL BIPARTISAN PIECE OF LEGISLATION WITH TED CRUZ AND RICK HANWELL OR WHATEVER.

YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY WOULD ALWAYS SAY, WATCH OUT WHEN CONGRESS GETS INVOLVED.

THERE IS ALWAYS UNANTICIPATED CONSEQUENCES.

THEY'RE STILL DISCUSSING WHAT THE PROVISIONS ARE GOING TO BE , AND THE BIG TEN AND THE S. E. C. HAVE BEEN LOBBYING VERY, VERY HEAVILY HERE, BUT I THINK MIKE MADE A GOOD POINT, BESIDES THE MONEY, LOOK AT THE ROSTER AT OHIO STATE.

YOU HAVE MAJORITY BEING TRANSFERS.

>> YOU KNOW, MAJOR-LEAGUE BASEBALL, YOU MIGHT LOSE THIS SEASON, BECAUSE THE OWNERS WANT A SALARY CAP.

WHY NOT HAVE CONGRESS COMMIT AND SET MAJOR-LEAGUE BASEBALL'S SALARY CAP?

WHAT IS CONGRESS EVEN DOING?

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF DIEHARD FANS IN CONGRESS, THEY LOVE COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] >> ABSOLUTELY.

BUT I THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE, AT LEAST I SEE, MICHAEL, ISN'T THE FACT THAT MILLIONS GO TO THE OHIO STATE ROSTER, TEXAS, OREGON ROSTER, THE DAMAGE IT'S DOING TO WOMEN'S SPORTS, THE DAMAGE IT IS DOING TO LESSER SPORTS LIKE SOCCER, TENNIS, TO SOME DEGREE LACROSSE.

WES AND UNIVERSITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY CUTTING GYMNASTICS PROGRAMS, CUTTING THIS, CUTTING THAT.

PUBLIC YOU WERNER -- UNIVERSITIES HERE IN OHIO.

THERE IS NO WAY THEY CAN KEEP UP WITH OHIO STATE, BUT THEY CAN'T EVEN KEEP UP WITH THEIR SMALLER PROGRAMS, SO WHO SUFFERS IN THE END?

THE KIDS.

>> YOU KNOW, ANDREW, MONEY HAS BEEN GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL FOR YEARS, DECADES.

WHAT HAS CHANGED IS THE PLAYERS ARE GETTING A SHARE OF IT NOW.

IS THAT REALLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS HERE?

THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, WE GOT TO PLAY --PAY THE PLAYERS, ALL BETS ARE OFF NOW?

>> I MEAN, I AM NOT ARGUING FOR OR AGAINST THIS LEGISLATION, BUT WITH MAJOR-LEAGUE BASEBALL, THEY HAVE A PLAYERS UNION THAT OWNERS NEGOTIATE WITH THEM, ALL THE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LEAGUES HAVE RULES THAT THEY HAVE AGREED TO, THEY HAVE AN ANTITRUST EXCEPTION, THEY HAVE A UNION DEAL.

AND SO, I GUESS THE ANSWER HERE IS THAT THE PLAYERS [ INAUDIBLE ], THE UNIVERSITIES WOULD HATE THAT, BUT GOING TO CONGRESS I GUESS IT'S PROBABLY EASIER THAN RECKONING WITH WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS ARE TO UNIONIZE COLLEGE ATHLETES.

>> SO, HOW DOES THIS END, HERB?

>> I MEAN, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT SOME PEOPLE RAISE , ARE THE PLAYERS EMPLOYEES OR ARE THEY STUDENT ATHLETES ?

THAT WOULD BE ONE QUESTION.

ANOTHER QUESTION WOULD BE, WELL, HOW MUCH DO WE REALLY WANT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF WOMEN'S SPORTS?

YOU KNOW, FOR SOME OF US, LESSER SCHOOLS, IN TERMS OF THEIR FINANCIALS, MAYBE IN FACT COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS NOT WHERE THEY SHOULD BE INVESTING.

MAYBE IN FACT, THEY SHOULD HAVE SOME SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT.

BUT THEN YOU THINK ABOUT DIVISION I, BUT THINK ABOUT WESTERN MICHIGAN.

>> THE PINE KEEPER.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> CONGRESS SHOULD GET INVOLVED IN THAT ONE.

ANYWAY, LET'S GET TO OUR FINAL ON THE RECORD PARTY SHOTS.

>> 50 WORST PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

SADLY, BUT NOT SURPRISINGLY, THREE FROM OHIO, CLEVELAND, COLUMBUS, CINCINNATI YET AGAIN, ON THE SAME LIST, YEAR AFTER YEAR.

COLUMBUS HAS A BILLION-DOLLAR BUDGET, MIKE, SO IT'S NOT MONEY BUT AT SOME POINT, WE HAVE TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND SAY WE HAVE A BROKEN PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

>> HERB?

>> THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS WILL NOT BE OVER ON NOVEMBER 23rd IF THE DEMOCRATS WIN THE U. S. HOUSE BY 11 SEATS OR 12 SEATS, I THINK IT WILL BE A MAJOR EFFORT BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NATIONALLY TO TRY TO OVERTURN THE OUTCOME IN A SPECIFIC DISTRICT, TAKE THE ISSUE TO THE U. S. HOUSE ABOUT WHO CAN BE SEATED AND ALL OF THAT, SO REALLY A REPEAT OF WHAT HAPPENED IN 2020.

>> ANDREW?

>> I WENT TO THE OHIO STATE GAME LAST WEEK, I WAS ASKED ABOUT MY $12 BEER, IF I WANTED TO ROUND MY BILL UP FOR THE NIL FUND, I FELT PRETTY GOOD ABOUT SAYING NO.

>> [ LAUGHTER ] >> THERE YOU GO.

[ INAUDIBLE ] ANYWAY, MY PREDICTION IS IF THE GAS TAX PASSES AND IT GOES INTO EFFECT , THEN 90 DAYS FROM NOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW THE CALENDAR WORKS, WHOEVER TRIES TO --IF THEY DON'T KEEP THE GAS TAX OFF AND THEY LET IT EXPIRE, THEY WILL BE ACCUSED OF RAISING TAXES, ESPECIALLY IF THE GOVERNOR WHO IS IN CHARGE THAT IS AMY HANTEN, THE DEMOCRAT, SHE WILL BE ACCUSED OF RAISING THE GAS TAX.

THAT IS SO COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD FOR THIS WEEK.

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I AM MIKE THOMPSON, HAVE A GOOD WEEK.