>> ELECTION MONTH IS HERE.

WHERE DO THE CANDIDATES STAND?

AND HAPPY GAS TAX HOLIDAY, FOR ALL THOSE WHO OBSERVE.

>> WELCOME TO COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

WE ALL POINT TO THE SECOND TUESDAY IN NOVEMBER, BUT ELECTION DAY IS KIND OF A THING OF THE PAST.

IT'S REALLY ELECTION MONTH, AND IT BEGINS THIS TUESDAY WITH THE START OF EARLY VOTING.

WITH TURNOUT EVEN MORE CRUCIAL IN THIS ELECTION THAN THE PAST FEW CYCLES, EARLY VOTING COULD PLAY A HUGE ROLE IN DECIDING WHO WILL BE OHIO'S NEXT GOVERNOR AND SIT IN THE U. S. SENATE.

TWO NEW POLLS OUT THIS WEEK SHOW AMY ACTON HAS A LEAD IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

A SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY POLL DONE FOR USA TODAY SHOWS HER WITH A WHOPPING NINE-POINT LEAD OVER VIVEK RAMASWAMY, 50 PERCENT TO 41 PERCENT.

THIS POLL INCLUDED LIKELY VOTERS, AND EVEN ITS LEAD AUTHOR QUESTIONED WHETHER ACTON'S LEAD IS REALLY THAT WIDE.

ANOTHER POLL OUT THIS WEEK GIVES THE DEMOCRAT AN ADVANTAGE AS WELL.

A MARIST POLL SHOWS ACTON WITH A SIX-POINT LEAD, 50 PERCENT TO 44 PERCENT, AMONG REGISTERED VOTERS, SO THERE'S A WIDER POOL THERE.

SO, BOTH POLLS GO AGAINST EVERY OTHER PREVIOUS POLL THAT SHOWED THE RACE TIED.

DO WE BELIEVE THE POLLS?

LET'S ASK OUR PANELISTS: JAKE ZUCKERMAN, POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT REPORTER FOR SIGNAL STATEWIDE, PROGRESSIVE ACTIVIST MORGAN HARPER, AND REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST MIKE GONIDAKIS.

MORGAN, GOOD NEWS FOR DEMOCRATS.

BUT DO YOU THINK ACTON IS UP BY THAT MUCH?

>> I DON'T THINK AMY AND HER TEAM COULD ASK FOR BETTER POLLING.

WE HAVE SEEN POLLING HAS BECOME LESS RELIABLE.

BUT I DO THINK THAT IT SHOWS THAT WE ARE WITHIN THE MARGIN OF ERROR HERE AND IT IS LIKELY GOING TO COME DOWN TO SOME LAST- MINUTE DECISION FOR A LOT OF VOTERS.

THERE ARE THOSE FIRMLY IN THEIR CAMPS AND THIS IS WHERE WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO SEE AMY DO WHAT SHE HAS BEEN DOING FOR TWO YEARS, TRAVELING THE STATE, GETTING IN FRONT OF AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AND WITH A STRONG MESSAGE OF WHY AS AN OUTSIDER, SHE'S GOING TO BE BETTER FOR OHIO AND NOT CORRUPT LIKE VIVEK RAMASWAMY.

>> HOW CONCERNED ARE REPUBLICANS BY THIS POLL?

I DON'T SEE HER UP BY NINE POINTS AT THIS POINT IN THE SAME ORGANIZATION HAD RICHARD QUICKLY UP BY SIX AGAINST MIKE DeWINE.

IS IT A CONCERN AT ALL THAT SHE HAS A LEAD IN BOTH POLES?

>> TO MORGAN'S POINT, POLLS ARE LESS RELIABLE.

I DIDN'T RUN THE POLL.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, VIVEK IS NOT UP BY NINE.

IT'S A CLOSER RACE TO MIDTERM ELECTIONS AND IF IT WAS A MIDTERM ELECTION, I THINK VIVEK WOULD BE UP BY NINE.

WE HAVE GAS PRICES.

WE HAVE THOSE ISSUES.

THERE IS BELIEVABILITY.

IT IS JUST NOT BELIEVABLE.

I THINK VIVEK HAS SUPPORT RESOURCES SPENT.

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY COUNTY FAIRS AMY ACTON GOES TO.

SHE CAN'T GET HER MESSAGE OUT AND IT'S CROWDED.

IT'S A CROWDED FIELD.

BUT THE ADS ARE ALL OVER.

THE MAILBOXES ARE FULL.

CAN YOU CUT THROUGH THE CLUTTER.

>> I MEAN, POLLS CAN'T TAKE THEM WITH A GRAIN OF SALT BUT THE ACTIONS TELL YOU HOW MUCH THE CAMPAIGNS BELIEVE.

AND VIVEK RAMASWAMY IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS HAS BEEN MORE AGGRESSIVE.

MAYBE HE IS TRYING TO CLOSE THE DEAL.

>> WHAT I DO FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT IN IS THERE IS NO CANDIDATE THAT WANTS TO BE LOSING IN OUR POLL.

THERE IS NO CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE THAT IS THE PREFERRED OUTCOME.

I WOULD SAY THE THING THAT REALLY CAUGHT MY ATTENTION IN THE ACTON CAMPAIGN IS SHE IS GOING TO THESE PLACES WHERE YOU WOULD NEVER IMAGINE DEMOCRATS SUCCEEDING.

SHE WAS IN PORTSMOUTH.

THESE AREN'T DEMOCRATIC STRONGHOLDS.

IT'S HARD TO KNOW HOW TO INTERPRET IT BUT IT'S A EYE- CATCHING PLACE FOR A DEMOCRAT .

I WOULD ARGUE THAT ONE EITHER WAY.

>> THIS RACE IS TIGHT.

VIVEK RAMASWAMY HAS SPENT A LOT MORE MONEY ON ADVERTISING THAN AMY ACTON.

THAT HAS TO BE GOOD NEWS FOR HER.

>> I'M HEARING FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE GROUND THAT THEY ARE SEEN AS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE WATCHING ANY SPORTING EVENTS.

THEY ARE HARD TO AVOID IF YOU WATCH THE OHIO STATE GAME.

BUT THEY DON'T LIKE THE NEGATIVITY AND ARE KIND OF BLOCKING IT OUT.

AGAIN, I THINK THIS ADDS TO THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF THE RACE AND THE NUMBER OVERALL AND I DO THINK IT'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, IMPORTANT FOR HER TO BE OUT THERE IN NOT JUST IN THOSE RURAL AREAS BUT IT WILL COME DOWN TO RELIABLE VOTERS.

IT WILL COME DOWN TO HOW YOUNG PEOPLE ARE INTERPRETING THIS RACE AND HOW THEY WILL TURN OUT.

BLACK VOTERS, WOMEN.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE HARD-CORE DATA, PUBLIC INFORMATION THAT IS AVAILABLE, THE DOSE THEY ARE NOT WHERE THEY WERE TWO YEARS AGO, FOUR YEARS AGO FOR DEMOCRATS.

LIKE FRANKLIN COUNTY, CALHOUN COUNTY.

THEY ARE ACTUALLY WAY DOWN.

>> WELL, MIKE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, DEMOCRATS HAVE MASTERED EARLY VOTING.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SIGNS, THEY ARE DOWN 400 A DAY.

3 TO 400 A DAY.

THAT SHOWS A LACK OF ENTHUSIASM BY YOUNG PEOPLE FOR AMY ACTON.

BUT AS HER CAMPAIGN TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE?

I HAVEN'T SEEN IT.

>> OR A LACK OF TRUST IN THE VOTING.

>> THERE QUESTIONS ABOUT MAIL IN VOTING.

HE HAS THROWN DOUBT ON MAIL IN VOTING AND WHETHER IT MIGHT BE A POSSIBILITY IN THIS ELECTION.

>> WHICH I LOOK FOR AS EARLY VOTING BEGINS.

DEMOCRATS TEND TO DO BETTER IN THE EARLY VOTING.

CAN WE MOVE ANYTHING INTO THE NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT VOTE EARLY IN PERSON, OR BY MAIL, REQUEST BY MAIL.

>> I THINK WE BROUGHT UP THE QUESTION PRETTY CLEARLY HERE.

YES.

I THINK YOU COULD IMAGINE AT LEAST A WORLD WHERE DEMOCRATS ARE NOT ON ENTHUSED BUT I THINK DEMOCRATS ARE VERY HEATED UP RIGHT NOW.

THEY ARE THE PARTY OUT OF POWER.

THE ANGER AND FRUSTRATION FOR THE IN POWER PARTY TENDS TO HAVE A STRONG EFFORT.

TWO WEEKS AGO, THREE WEEKS AGO, REJECTING WHAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WAS TRYING TO DO WITH MAIL IN VOTING BUT I THINK MOST VOTERS ARE NOT LAWYERS.

THEY CANNOT FOLLOW APPELLATE LITIGATION.

THESE THINGS GET PING-PONG TO AROUND.

IT'S A LOT TO ASK FOR ORDINARY PEOPLE TO FOLLOW.

I EXPECT THERE SOME NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS AT THEIR THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE POSTAL SERVICE.

I'M GOING TO AVOID IT AND SHOW UP IN PERSON AND VOTE.

>> VIVEK RAMASWAMY HAS BEEN OUT DOING INTERVIEWS.

HE OFFERED TO DEBATE.

AMY ACTON DECLINED.

DOES AMY ACTON HAVE TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE?

VIVEK RAMASWAMY IS GOING TO SPEAK IN THE MIDDLE OF OCTOBER.

SHE APPARENTLY IS DECLINING THEIR INVITATION.

IS THAT GOING TO HURT HER?

>> IT'S NOT CLEAR.

SHE IS A DEMOCRAT RUNNING IN OHIO, SO YOU WOULD WANT I THINK TO PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE TO BE PRESENTING IDEAS, BUT VIVEK RAMASWAMY IS A KNOWN LIAR IN DOES SEEM VERY GOOD AT MANIPULATING FACTS AND DATA IN THE MOMENT, AND A FAST TALKER, SO I UNDERSTAND THE STRATEGIC CALL OF NOT DOING IT.

BUT I WILL SAY ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE THINKING ABOUT YOUNGER PEOPLE, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR ELECTEDS TO DIG INTO THE WEEDS OF POLICY.

THAT'S SOMETHING I HEAR FROM YOUNG PEOPLE.

IN THIS SCENARIO, IT IS A UNIQUE RACE, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S A LONG-TERM PLAY FOR US AS A PARTY.

>> IS IT RISKY FOR VIVEK RAMASWAMY TO BE OUT THERE DOING INTERVIEWS IN UNCONTROLLED SETTINGS?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

HE DOES INTERVIEWS.

HE DOESN'T PICK AND CHOOSE WHO COMES UP TO HIM.

HE WILL TAKE THE TOUGH QUESTIONS.

THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TONIGHT CEO.

GET OUT AND TALK TO THE AVERAGE VOTER.

THAT'S THE REASON WHY THERE'S NO ENTHUSIASM AMONGST YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> THIS IS A STUPID TALKING POINT THAT THE AVERAGE VOTER DOESN'T TALK ABOUT.

THEY ARE TRYING TO WORK HARD.

ALL YOUR TALKING POINTS ARE PRIVATE JETS AND THIS THAT AND THE OTHER.

THAT IS WHY YOU LOSE EVERY ELECTION CYCLE IN OHIO.

KEEP GOING.

>> INDEPENDENTS.

DO THEY VOTE?

THEY ARE LEANING TOWARDS BOTH AMY ACTON AND SHERROD BROWN IN THESE POLLS.

>> WHEN I THINK OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS, I THINK IT'S WHAT IT SOUNDS.

THEY ARE UP FOR GRABS.

THERE'S NOT SOME OBVIOUS PARTISAN BENT TO THE COUNTRY SO MUCH AS WE HATE THE GUY THAT IS THERE.

I THINK WITH GAS PRICES RISING, WITH ALL OF THESE BASIC COST-OF- LIVING FACTORS PUSHING UPWARD, THAT JUST DRIVES THIS ANTI- INCUMBENCY ANGER THAT'S IN THE AIR.

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP TRAVELS TO OHIO.

HE WILL SPEAK TO A RALLY NEAR DAYTON, THAT IS JON HUSTED'S HOME.

A THREE-POINT EDGE OVER JON HUSTED.

THAT POLL, IN THE MARGIN OF ERROR, SO BASICALLY, THAT SURVEY IS TIGHT.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE MARIST POLL OF REGISTERED VOTERS, BROWN BEATS HUSTED BY --IT'S OUTSIDE THE MARGIN OF ERROR IN THAT POLL IF YOU BELIEVE THE POLLS.

JON HUSTED IS TRAILING BROWN IN BOTH AND THAT'S PERHAPS WHY HE WILL EMBRACE PRESIDENT TRUMP THIS WEEKEND EVEN THOUGH PRESIDENT TRUMP'S POPULARITY HAS DROPPED TO ITS LOWEST LEVEL IN YEARS.

WHAT IS JON HUSTED TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH HIS RALLY WITH TRUMP THIS YEAR?

>> MAKE SURE THE MAGA VOTERS SHOW UP.

IF THE MAGA VOTERS SHOW UP, JON HUSTED WILL GET REELECTED AND HE WILL BE IN THE SENATE.

IF THEY DON'T SHOW UP, HE'S GOING TO BE IN TROUBLE.

I THINK WE TALKED RECENTLY THAT A LOT OF VOTERS THINK THAT SHERROD BROWN IS IN THE SENATE.

SO JON HAS TO REMIND VOTERS TO GET OFF YOUR COUCH.

GET YOUR BUTT INTO THE VOTING BOOTH.

>> MANY VOTERS ARE SKEPTICAL OF MIKE DeWINE.

THEY'RE NOT A BIG FAN OF GOVERNOR DeWINE .

JON HUSTED WAS --FOR YEARS.

DOES THAT HURT THE MAGA BASE?

>> I THINK JON HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF SEPARATING HIMSELF, NOW TWO YEARS IN THE SENATE.

HE SUPPORTED THE PRESIDENT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

THAT MATTERS TO THE MAGA VOTER.

HE'S GOING TO HAVE A TREMENDOUS RALLY.

DONALD TRUMP CAME IN AND SAVED MIKE DEWINE'S BACKSIDE.

MIKE DeWINE WON THAT RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

I THINK HE'S GOING TO DO THAT SAME THING FOR HUSTED.

>> DOES HE TRIED TO TIE TO JON HUSTED TO DONALD TRUMP?

BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH HIS POPULARITY IS DOWN, HE IS STILL PRETTY POPULAR AMONG A LOT OF REPUBLICANS IN THIS STATE.

>> I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

I THINK THERE'S THE POTENTIAL TO TRY TO TIE HIM TO TRUMPET BUT I THINK THE MESSAGING THAT PUTS OUT THERE IS A LITTLE MORE FOCUSED ON THE ISSUES IS EFFECTIVE.

LIKE THE DATA CENTERS.

THE SHROUD OF CORRUPTION FOR SYNERGY.

UTILITY PRICES.

THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE BEYOND THAT HARD-CORE MAGA BASE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.

EVEN WITHIN THAT BASE, THERE IS FRICTION BECAUSE JON HUSTED IS GOING TO TRY TO PRESENT HIMSELF AS THE SAVIOR OF THAT FACTION BUT HE'S A SUBURBAN GUY.

HE DOESN'T SEEM THAT COMFORTABLE EMBRACING POPULIST ENERGY AND I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE THAT AUTHENTIC.

AND I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT ISSUES LIKE HEALTH CARE, FOLKS ARE STARTING TO BREAK FROM SOME OF THE POLICIES IN THIS ADMINISTRATION.

>> LOOKING AT SHERROD BROWN'S CAMPAIGN TWO YEARS AGO, LOOK AT IT THIS TIME AROUND.

IT IS DIFFERENT.

IT SEEMS TO BE MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE IN ANSWERING THE ATTACKS ON HIM.

IT SEEMS MUCH MORE FOCUSED.

WOULD YOU AGREE?

>> TWO YEARS AGO, SHERROD BROWN HAD THIS VULNERABILITY WITH DEMOCRATS.

AND YOU GOT THE FEELING OF HIM ALWAYS ON HIS BACK FOOT.

AND NOW THE MESSAGE IS COMING THROUGH, ESSENTIALLY, TRANSGENDER THIS.

TRANSGENDER THAT.

I'M TRYING TO HELP AMERICANS WITH THE BASIC COST-OF-LIVING AND JON HUSTED IS LITIGATING THIS ISSUE THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN LITIGATING.

IT IS SETTLED LAW IN OHIO.

THEY'RE POINTING TO CHANGES THAT REPUBLICANS MADE AT THE STATE LEVEL, SAYING, YOU CAN SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

THERE'S NOTHING TO SAY HERE.

I'M TRYING TO SOLVE YOUR PROBLEM AND JON HUSTED IS TRYING TO DISTRACT YOU.

I THINK THIS IS MORE ASSERTIVE THAN WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY A WEAKNESS.

>> HE WAS IN CHARGE OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, WITH TECH AND DATA CENTERS AND HE DID A LOT TO PROMOTE THAT.

NOW, DATA CENTERS ARE EVIL AND HE TRIED TO SWING DOORS THEY TRIED TO GET A DATA CENTER POWER SHARE THROUGH CONGRESS AND IT DIDN'T WORK.

CAN HE CONVINCE VOTERS THAT HE IS ON THEIR SIDE WHEN HE SPENT SEVEN YEARS PROMOTING BIG DATA.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

OVER 150 DEMOCRATS VOTED FOR THE JON HUSTED DATA CENTER BILL.

YOU NEED 60 VOTES TO GET SOMETHING THROUGH BUT CHUCK SCHUMER AND HIS BUDDY, THEY PLOT THE LAST THREE VOTES FROM HAPPENING.

THIS IS WHAT AMERICANS WANTED BUT THE DEMOCRATS SET THIS IS A GOOD IDEA, SCHUMER, BROWN.

IT'S THE OLD PLAYBOOK.

VOTERS ARE TIRED OF THAT.

WE HAD A GOOD PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO HELP OHIO AND IT GOT SHUT DOWN.

SAME OLD SAME OLD.

>> THE DETAILS OF THAT ARE WORTH DRILLING DOWN INTO.

AUTHORITIES NEED TO CONSIDER ON A TWO-YEAR TRACK, THAT THEY ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO TAKE, AND THERE'S A CARVE OUT IN THE BILL THAT LIKELY INCLUDES OHIO, SO THERE IS POLITICS ON THE TABLE, BUT IT WAS ALMOST SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT MORE THAN SOMETHING THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO CHANGE ANY SORT OF PRICING STANDARDS AROUND DATA CENTERS.

>> JON HUSTED AND HIS ALLIES , THEY ARE USING THE SAME ISSUES.

SOFT ON IMMIGRATION.

BASICALLY A SOCIALIST POINT WITH THE FAR LEFT OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

THE TRANS RIGHTS ISSUES.

OHIO MEANS RED.

FOR THOSE ISSUES GOING TO WORK AGAIN?

>> IT DOES ALL FEEL JUST SO YESTERDAY, AND WHERE ARE OHIOANS AT TODAY?

OHIOANS ARE UPSET ABOUT THE COST OF THINGS.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH SOCIETY AND A I AND DATA CENTERS AND WHO'S GOING TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT DIGGING IN ON THOSE ISSUES?

I DON'T THINK THAT BILL IN THE LAST MINUTE BEFORE THE ELECTION, THAT WAS CLEARLY A MESSAGING EXERCISE, IS GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO CONVINCE THAT JON HUSTED --THAT'S WHERE HIS MIND IS EVERYDAY.

GUARANTEE VICTORY?

NOT BY ANY MEANS, BUT I DO THINK SHERROD IS VERY WELL POSITIONED AT THIS STAGE.

>> ONE OF THE ADS SAID, IF YOU THINK PRICES ARE HIGH NOW, WAIT TILL DEMOCRATS ARE IN CHARGE.

IT'S BAD BUT IT COULD GET WORSE.

IT IS BAD.

DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD.

>> DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT IT USED TO BE LIKE THAT?

DO YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO THAT?

SO THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, THE DEVIL YOU DON'T KNOW.

>> I REMEMBER THAT.

>> AND WE ENDED THE POPULAR WAR IN IRAN.

HERE WE ARE.

>> MORGAN, SO WHAT ABOUT THAT?

PRICES WILL GET WORSE.

>> HOW DO DEMOCRATS COUNTER THAT?

>> WELL, AND ALSO, THE WE ENTERED A UNPOPULAR WAR .

AND HUSTED IS DOING A RALLY WITH TRUMP.

PRICES WERE RISING BEFORE THAT AND A LOT OF THAT DOES HAVE TO DEAL WITH UNDERLYING OR CONNECT TO UNDERLYING ISSUES IN THE ECONOMY.

I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR DEMOCRATS TO NOT JUST LAND WITH CRITIQUE BUT ALSO PRESENT A PLAN FOR HOW WE ARE GOING TO DECREASE PRICES AND IT CAN'T BE A ONE-OFF BILL.

IT HAS TO BE A VISION OF HOW TO REBUILD THE ECONOMY.

>> THEY SPENT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

AMY DOESN'T HAVE IT.

WHERE IS THE PLAN?

THAT IS WHY YOUNG PEOPLE AREN'T OUT THERE, ENTHUSED ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

NEITHER DOES SHERROD BROWN.

THEY HATE TRUMP.

ORANGE MAN BAD.

VOTE FOR ME.

>> PEOPLE KNOW THAT IF YOU'RE TAKING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THE CRYPTO INDUSTRY, MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, YOU ARE UNLIKELY TO BE THE PERSON THAT SERIOUS ABOUT DELIVERING ON THAT PLAN.

>> TO MIKE'S POINT, JAY, WE ARE 30 DAYS OUT.

IS STUFFED BAKED IN NOW?

HAVE PEOPLE MADE UP THEIR MIND?

THE UNDECIDEDS ARE PRETTY SMALL RIGHT NOW.

>> HONESTLY, I THINK PEOPLE LIKE US AROUND THIS TABLE HAVE SPENT TOO MUCH OF OUR LIVES FOCUSING ON POLITICS.

MOST AMERICANS ARE REALIZING, THERE IS AN ELECTION COMING UP.

I SHOULD FIGURE OUT WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE.

YOU SEE A LOT OF WHAT IS PERCEIVED AS MOVEMENT IN POLLS IN OCTOBER AND REALLY IT'S PEOPLE BEGINNING TO PAY ATTENTION.

SO I DON'T WATCH THIS STUFF TOO CLOSELY.

PEOPLE HAVE LIVES TO LIVE.

>> HE SAID AMY ACTON, UNFAVORABLE BECAUSE OF THE ADS RUNNING AGAINST HER.

>> YEAH.

I HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE TO SEE HER PRESENCE IN THE ADS.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE KIND OF TUNING OUT ESPECIALLY THE NEGATIVITY, BUT SHE HAS A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE HER OWN STORY HERE.

NOT HAVING THE BAGGAGE OF BEING IN OFFICE BEFORE AND PRESENTING THAT VISION FOR OHIOANS.

AND THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PICK PEOPLE UP .

THEY'RE FINALLY STARTING TO TUNE IN THESE FINAL WEEKS.

>> IT IS THE SAME SITUATION.

PEOPLE THINK HE IS THE CHALLENGER.

HE'S BEEN IN OFFICE FOR A LONG TIME BUT PEOPLE DON'T REALLY KNOW HIM.

INSIDERS KNOW HIM BUT THE AVERAGE PERSON PROBABLY DOESN'T KNOW WHO HE IS.

>> YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

I'M GOING TO PREDICT HIS NEXT ADS ARE GOING TO BE HIM TALKING TO OHIOANS BECAUSE THEY HAVE REALIZED THEY NEED TO GET TO KNOW HIM BETTER AND WHEN HE'S DONE THAT, I'VE SEEN INTERNAL POLLING JUST THIS WEEK WHERE HIS NUMBERS ARE GOING UP BECAUSE HE'S FORWARD FACING TALKING TO VOTERS ON CAMERA.

COMPARE THAT TO SHERROD BROWN.

>> THAT HAPPENED, BRITNEY MARINO, DOING POSITIVE ADS AND LETTING OTHER PEOPLE SLING THE MUD.

ON MY WAY TO WORK TODAY, CASS WAS -- GAS WAS $4.

30 A GALLON.

THANKS TO THE OHIO LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR DEWINE, THAT PRICE SHOULD SINK TO BELOW $4 A GALLON SOON.

LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK RETURNED FOR AN EMERGENCY SESSION AND SUSPENDED OHIO'S 38-CENT-A- GALLON GASOLINE TAX FOR THREE MONTHS.

GOVERNOR DEWINE SUPPORTS IT, AND IT SHOULD TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

IT CAME AFTER BOTH CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR CALLED FOR THE GAS TAX HOLIDAY.

IT WILL COST THE STATE MORE THAN $700 MILLION IN LOST REVENUE, MONEY THAT PAYS FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIRS.

TO PAY FOR THE HOLIDAY, LAWMAKERS WILL USE PART OF A TAX SURPLUS THE STATE SAW AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR IN JUNE.

JAKE ZUCKERMAN, THIS WAS PRETTY EASY.

WE SHOULD SEE GAS PRICES LOWER TOMORROW?

>> I THINK THIS IS THE FASTEST I'VE SEEN $725 MILLION SPENT.

IT'S BEEN PRETTY REMARKABLE.

THE FIRST FISCAL ANALYSIS FROM THE LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION CAME OUT YESTERDAY.

IT WAS PASSED.

AND TO SEE THE BROAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, DEMOCRATS HAD A LOT OF MEAN THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE BILL BEFORE THEY VOTED YES FOR IT.

THERE ARE SOME POLITICAL CIRCUMSTANCES THERE BUT I'VE JUST NEVER SEEN SO MUCH MONEY SPENT OUT THE DOOR, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE VOTING YES FOR IT, BUT PUBLICLY, I'M NOT SURE THIS IS A GREAT IDEA.

>> MOST DEMOCRATS VOTED FOR THIS.

IF YOU VOTED NO.

WHY?

>> THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG HIT FOR THE COFFERS OF THE STATE.

$750 MILLION IS NOT NOTHING AND THE IMPACT IT'S GOING TO HAVE ON EVERY DAY OHIOANS IS NOT THAT SIGNIFICANT.

I THINK THE ESTIMATE IS $35 OR SOMETHING.

AND IS IT WORTH IT?

COST BENEFIT.

NOT NECESSARILY CLEAR.

TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WANTING TO DO SOMETHING AND ESPECIALLY IN AN EMERGENCY BUT HOW ARE WE DEFINING EMERGENCY?

WE HAVE BEEN IN THIS SITUATION WITH RISING GAS PRICES FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW.

IT'S CALLED THE LEGISLATURE.

YOU CAN GO THROUGH A PROCESS TO DETERMINE THE RANGE OF OPTIONS OR ADDRESS THE SITUATION THAT HAS ARISEN.

I THINK THE FACT THAT THIS CAME TOGETHER QUICKLY BEFORE AN ELECTION IS ANOTHER THING THAT BREEDS A LACK OF TRUST IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS REALLY WORKING FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE.

>> WELL, HOW DOES VIVEK RAMASWAMY, HE HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE.

THEY CELEBRATED THE PASSAGE.

HOW DOES HE USE THIS IN HIS CAMPAIGN?

>> HE CAN GET THINGS DONE.

THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO CONTROL THE OHIO HOUSE AND OHIO SENATE.

YOU WANT A GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS WITH HIM, AND THIS IS A DEMONSTRATION HE CAN GET THINGS DONE.

AMY PUT OUT A TWEET, WE SHOULD HAVE A GAS TAX HOLIDAY.

>> WHERE WAS THE PLAN?

A QUICK TWEET DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE A PLAN.

IT MEANS YOU WENT ON TWITTER OR X. ONE WORD THAT ESCAPES MY COLLEAGUES HERE, SURPLUS.

IF THE GOVERNMENT HAS A SURPLUS, IT IS THEIR MONEY.

IT IS EXTRA MONEY THAT THEY HAVE.

IT IS OUR MONEY.

WE ARE GETTING IT BACK.

WE THE PEOPLE CAN'T NUMBER ONE.

IT'S OUR MONEY.

WE ARE NOT TAKING MONEY OUT OF DIFFERENT PARTS.

SORRY, JAKE.

NUMBER TWO, IF YOU'RE A FARMER IN OHIO WHICH IS THE NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY IN THE STATE, AGRICULTURE.

YOU ARE GOING TO SAVE $50 A DAY.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING BIG TRACTORS TO DO THE CORN AND I'M NOT A FARMER.

THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR A FAMILY FARMER.

CITY FOLKS MIGHT NOT REALIZE IT BUT IT MATTERS TO THE AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY.

>> VIVEK RAMASWAMY AND AMY ACTON, TOO.

IT IS HARVEST TIME.

THEY'RE GOING TO SAVE SOME MONEY.

THE FARMERS WILL.

>> THERE IS AN OPEN QUESTION HERE.

THERE'S A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING THAT SOME AMOUNT OF THIS MONEY WILL NOT BE PASSED ON TO CONSUMER AS --CONSUMERS AS SAVINGS.

I WOULD IMAGINE IT IS SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE BUT NOT ALL OF THIS MONEY IS GOING TO BE PASSED ON WHICH IS COMING TO THE CONCERN OF SOME OF THE NAYSAYERS INCLUDING ONE ON THE RIGHT, KEVIN BINGLE IS THE WOMANLY AND THAT REPUBLICAN THAT SAID THIS IS A BAD PLAN.

WE DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE POLICY THAT'S GOING TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO THIS MONEY.

THIS MIGHT BE LIKE IN ALL OHIO SALES TAX HOLIDAY WHERE IT'S TRUE THAT MONEY DOES GO BACK TO PEOPLE BUT NO SINGLE PERSON MIGHT FEEL THE EFFECT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FARMERS.

>> YEAH.

AND I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT FOR DEMOCRATS TO BRING THE ISSUE BACK TO THE ACTUAL CAUSE.

THE WAR IN IRAN HAS DRIVEN UP DIESEL AND GAS PRICES AND IF WE ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT, LET AS CHALLENGE THE REPUBLICAN WHO GOT US >> OKAY, TIME FOR OUR FINAL OFF INTO THIS.

THE RECORD PARTING SHOTS.

>> HERE WE ARE TODAY.

LOOK.

WE HAVE A LEGISLATURE THAT COULD FIX THIS PROBLEM BUT DO THEY HAVE THE WILL TO DO IT?

>> MORGAN.

>> MIKE ALWAYS FLABBERGASTED ME.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE REPUBLICANS TAKE ON HEALTHCARE COSTS FOR OHIOANS.

THERE WILL BE AN EVENT ON OCTOBER 11th TALKING ABOUT YOUNGER VOTERS TO GET THEM OUT IN FRONT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES AND ATTORNEY GENERAL DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.

WE DID NOT HEAR FROM THE REPUBLICANS BUT A GOOD CHANCE TO GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

>> TODAY IS OCTOBER 1.

THE FIRST MEDICAID CUTS UNDER THE ONE BIG BILL ACT KICK IN.

PAROLEES AND SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING , ALL OF WHOM WERE LAWFULLY ADMITTED WILL SOON BE WITHOUT HEALTHCARE.

>> AUDIT.

AS YOU MENTIONED, GOVERNOR DeWINE WASTED NO TIME IN SIGNING THE SUSPENSION.

HE SIGNED IT THE DAY AFTER IT WAS PASSED.

THIS IS NOT THE FASTEST HE'S ACTED ON A PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

IN 2019, HE SIGNED A BILL THE SAME AFTERNOON IT WAS PASSED.

THAT BILL WAS HOUSE BILL 6 DIG.

THE INFAMOUS NUCLEAR BAILOUT BILL.

WHO SAYS THAT GOVERNMENT CANNOT ACT QUICKLY?

THAT'S COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD FOR THIS WEEK.

A REMINDER TO CHECK OUT THE WOSU NEWS YOUTUBE PAGE.

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

GO TO YOUTUBE AND SEARCH WOSU NEWS.

YOU CAN ALSO WATCH US ON DEMAND AT WOSU.

ORG AND THE PBS APP.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.