>> MAX MILLER VOWS TO FIGHT ON AND VIVEK RAMASWAMY GETS A LITTLE TOUGHER ON DATA CENTERS.

>> WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD. "

I' M MIKE THOMPSON.

A NORTHEAST OHIO CONGRESSMAN FACES A KEY DECISION THIS WEEKEND, WHETHER TO CONTINUE HIS RE-ELECTION BID OR STEP ASIDE IN TIME FOR HIS PARTY TO NAME A REPLACEMENT.

FOR NOW, REPUBLICAN MAX MILLER VOWS TO FIGHT AS HE FACES ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE BY MULTIPLE WOMEN.

THE LATEST INVOLVE HIS EX-WIFE EMILY MORENO, THE DAUGHTER OF SENATOR BERNIE MORENO.

EMILY MORENO IN COURT FILINGS ACCUSES MILLER OF PHYSICALLY ABUSING HER AND POSSIBLY THEIR 2-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.

MILLER DENIES THE ALLEGATIONS AND SAYS HIS EX-WIFE HAS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

THE ACCUSATIONS HAVE BEEN PERCOLATING LOCALLY FOR MONTHS, BUT LAST MONTH NATIONAL MEDIA STORIES APPEARED.

A P. A. C. SUPPORTING MILLER'S OPPONENT REPORTEDLY PLACED THOUSANDS OF ROBOCALLS TO VOTERS HIGHLIGHTING THE ACCUSATIONS.

POLLS SHOWED MILLER'S SAFE SEAT WAS VULNERABLE, AND SUNDAY MORNING MILLER TOOK TO X AND HELD A 15-MINUTE LIVESTREAM TO REFUTE THE ALLEGATIONS.

>> MY FORMER WIFE IS ENGAGING IN A PATTERN OF REPORTING INCREDIBLE AND SERIOUS AND DESTRUCTIVE ALLEGATIONS WITH ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE.

EVERY ONE OF THESE ALLEGATIONS WAS INVESTIGATED .

AND I SAY THAT AGAIN.

EVERY ONE OF THESE ALLEGATIONS WERE ALREADY INVESTIGATED.

AND I COOPERATED FULLY EVERY SINGLE TIME BECAUSE I HAD NOTHING TO HIDE, AND I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE NOW.

>> THAT VIDEO PROMPTED HIS FORMER FATHER-IN-LAW, SENATOR BERNIE MORENO, TO POST A STATEMENT CALLING ON MILLER TO DROP HIS RE-ELECTION BID AND CALLING HIM A DANGER TO HIS DAUGHTER, SOMETHING HE REPEATED TO REPORTERS ON TUESDAY.

>> MY DAUGHTER LIVES IN CONSTANT FEAR OF THIS MAN, NOT LIKE SOMETHING THAT'S EXISTENTIAL, BUT DEEPLY IN HER HEART SHE FEARS WHAT THIS GUY IS CAPABLE OF.

YOU CAN'T FATHOM WHAT THAT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE WHEN THE DAD'S NUMBER ONE JOB IS TO PROTECT YOUR KIDS.

AND TO HAVE THIS WHOLE THING OUT IN THE PUBLIC LIKE THIS IS NOT WHAT I WANTED TO DO.

IT'S NOT WHAT MY DAUGHTER WANTED TO DO.

>> TO DISCUSS THIS AND MORE WE'LL LOOK TO OUR PANEL.

JESSIE BALMERT, STATEHOUSE REPORTER FOR THE USA TODAY OHIO NETWORK.

HERB ASHER, OSU POLITICAL SCIENTIST.

AND GENE KREBS OF THE GROUP BETTER CHOICES FOR OHIO.

JESSIE BALMERT, MONDAY IS THE DEADLINE FOR MILLER TO DROP OUT SO THE PARTY CAN NAME A REPLACEMENT, BUT HE'S HOLDING FIRM.

AS OF FRIDAY AFTERNOON, HE'S HOLDING FIRM.

>> YEAH, IT WAS INTERESTING.

MILLER BETWEEN THE X LIVE AND THEN HE'S GONE ON MULTIPLE DIFFERENT NATIONAL PUBLICATIONS TRYING TO KIND OF, I GUESS, STATE HIS CASE OR DIG HIMSELF OUT OF THIS HOLE.

BUT THERE'S JUST BEEN INCREASING CALLS FROM MORE AND MORE PEOPLE FOR HIM TO DROP OUT OF THIS RACE, INCLUDING MOST RECENTLY FROM OHIO SENATOR JOHN.

A NUMBER OF OTHERS IN THE STATE, THE CENTER FOR CHRISTIAN VIRTUE, REALLY JUST SAYING THIS IS NOT WHAT HE NEEDS TO BE DOING RIGHT NOW.

>> THESE ALLEGATIONS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR MONTHS, SOME FOR YEARS.

POLITICO, "THE WASHINGTON POST" HAD STORIES ON THIS A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

WHY IS IT INTENSIFYING NOW?

>> PART OF IT IS THAT IT'S A SEAT THAT NOW MAY BE UP FOR GRABS, CONTROL OF THE U. S. HOUSE AND ALL OF THAT, BUT IT DID SURPRISE SOME PEOPLE THAT IF BERNIE MORENO WAS SO CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, WHY DID THE SENATOR WAIT SO LONG --AND I THINK THE ANSWER WAS IN PART, WELL, HIS DAUGHTER DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE PUBLIC --BUT ALL OF THESE THINGS TO BE HAPPENING NOW, JUST THREE MONTHS BEFORE THE ELECTION.

>> IS THIS LIKE A GRAHAM PLATNER SITUATION, WHERE IT WASN'T UNTIL THE POLL SHOWED THIS RACE IS A TOSS-UP, OR MAX MILLER'S TRAILING, THAT THE PEOPLE SAY, HEY, HOLD ON.

>> I THINK, REALLY, THOUGH, I THINK WITH BERNIE MORENO, SENATOR BERNIE MORENO COMING OUT AND EXPRESSING GRAVE MISGIVINGS, THAT REALLY PROPELLED IT.

HAVING SAID THAT, YES, I ABSOLUTELY THINK HE'S NOT FIT TO SERVE OFFICE.

I THINK HE SHOULD RESIGN FROM THE RACE AND RESIGN FROM THE OFFICE IMMEDIATELY, BUT IF HE CHOOSES NOT TO, THERE'S HEAVY PRECEDENT HE MAY ACTUALLY STILL WIN.

LOOK AT MATT GAETZ, FORMERLY OF CONGRESS, WHO HAD A LAUNDRY LIST OF SINS WELL DOCUMENTED WITH UNDERAGE LADIES.

HE'S --HE WON RE-ELECTION.

YOU HAD TED KENNEDY.

YOU HAD BILL CLINTON.

IT TRULY IS A BIPARTISAN -- BIPARTISAN --PEOPLE STILL WILL ELECT THEM FOR BEING --EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE CADS AND SCUMS.

>> BUT JESSIE, IF YOU LOOK BACK AT TWO YEARS AGO, HE WON, MAX MILLER WON, BUT ONLY WITH 51% OF THE VOTE.

IT WAS A THREE-WAY RACE.

DENNIS WAS IN THE RACE, FORMER DEMOCRAT RAN AS AN INDEPENDENT.

HE GOT 13%.

SO 51% IN A PRETTY HEAVILY, YOU KNOW, GERRYMANDERED DISTRICT THAT'S A SAFE RED SEAT, BUT IT'S NOT A HUGE COMFORT LEVEL.

>> YEAH.

THIS IS A TWO-WAY RACE.

HIS DEMOCRATIC OPPONENT IS BRIAN POINDEXTER, WHO HAS SAID THAT, AGAIN, HE SHOULD DROP OUT OF THIS RACE, BUT I THINK YOU'VE SEEN SOME INTERNAL POLLING THAT HAVE BEEN LEAKED IN RECENT DAYS THAT SHOWED THAT MILLER HAS LOST AS MUCH AS SIX PERCENTAGE POINTS WITHIN THE PAST WEEK OF SO OF THIS REALLY DRAWING A LOT OF ATTENTION.

AND SO THERE IS CONCERN AMONG REPUBLICANS THAT HE COULD LOSE THIS SEAT, WHICH OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN PRETTY SAFE FOR REPUBLICANS.

>> BUT THINK ABOUT THIS, THAT WHAT REALLY IS MOTIVATING SOME OF THESE REPUBLICANS IS NOT THE CHARACTER, NOT THE PERFORMANCE, NOT THE SCRUPLES OF MAX MILLER, IT'S OH MY GOD, WE MIGHT LOSE THE SEAT, SO NOW WE HAVE TO TELL HIM TO DROP OUT.

THAT REALLY MAKES FOR A MIXED MESSAGE IN SOME WAYS.

>> DOES IT AFFECT OTHER RACES, GENE?

I MEAN, THIS WEEK, DON LEONARD, UNDERDOG CANDIDATE RUNNING FOR CONGRESS HERE IN COLUMBUS, ISSUED AN EMAIL, FUNDRAISING EMAIL SHOWING MILLER AND HE ON STAGE AT A PANEL DISCUSSION.

PRETTY BENIGN.

BUT LINKING HIS OPPONENT TO MAX MILLER.

>> IT ALL HURTS.

JUST SPEAKING NOT AS A REPUBLICAN BUT SPEAKING BEYOND THAT AS OHIOAN AND AN AMERICAN, THIS IS WHY WE'RE SEEING A CONSTANT EROSION OF FAITH IN GOVERNMENT, FAITH IN OUR INSTITUTIONS.

BETTER CHOICES FOR OHIO DID POLLING TWO WEEKS AGO, AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS 72% OF STATE CONGRESS DOESN'T CARE.

66% SAY THAT STATE HOUSE DOESN'T CARE.

AND IT'S THESE TYPE OF THINGS THAT ERODES OUR CIVIC CAPACITY AND ABILITY TO GOVERN OURSELVES INTELLIGENTLY.

THIS IS --THIS IS JUST AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER.

>> IT ALSO DEMONSTRATES THAT YOU THINK ABOUT ERIC SWALWELL IN CALIFORNIA WHO FINALLY WAS FORCED TO STEP DOWN IN HIS CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR, AND PLATNER.

THERE WAS A LOT KNOWN ABOUT THESE PEOPLE AHEAD OF TIME.

THEY WEREN'T REALLY EITHER APPROPRIATELY VETTED, OR IF THEY WERE VETTED, YOU SORT OF DISMISSED THE ACCUSATIONS FROM FEMALES OR OTHER KINDS OF STORIES AND ONLY UNTIL IT LOOKED LIKE IT MIGHT HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE ELECTION OUTCOME DID THE MORAL SENSITIVITIES OF PEOPLE REALLY GET IN HAND.

>> IT HAS TO DO SOMETHING, JESSIE, TO --A LOT OF BAD NEWS TO GENE'S POINT WILL SUPPRESS TURNOUT.

PEOPLE MIGHT SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR ANYBODY.

IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN, YOU'RE NOT ENTHUSED.

DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO BE ENTHUSED BECAUSE TRUMP WON THE WHITE HOUSE, BUT REPUBLICANS, THEY'RE GOING TO NEED OOMPH AND TO GET OUT AND VOTE.

>> THIS IS GOING TO BE A BETTER YEAR FOR DEMOCRATS ACROSS THE BOARD BECAUSE OF UNFAVORABILITY NUMBERS WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP, FROM THE IRAN WAR, FROM AFFORDABILITY ISSUES.

AND THAT WAS GOING TO BE IN PLAY NO MATTER WHAT.

AND THEN YOU HAVE THIS REALLY DAMAGED, EMBATTLED CANDIDATE, AND IT JUST MAKES IT THAT MUCH WORSE.

>> HISTORICAL ASPECT OF WHAT YOU JUST BROUGHT UP, IN 2006 WHEN TED STRICKLAND BEAT KEN BLACKWELL BY 24 POINTS, ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS FOR IT WAS THAT IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY, THERE WAS SOMETHING GOING ON ABOUT THE DE MOURA SITUATION.

THAT SHORTED 250 VOTES OUT OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY.

NOW WHAT'S HAPPENED IS THAT THE PARTY'S DEMOGRAPHICS HAVE, IN EFFECT, SLIPPED.

AND WE, REPUBLICANS, NOW HAVE THE LOWER INCOME, THE LOWER EDUCATED VOTER WHO ARE MORE -- IN THEIR VOTING PREDICTABILITY.

AND THEY PROBABLY WON'T SHOW UP IF THEY FEEL AT ALL DEPRESSED, DISENFRANCHISED.

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW YOU CUT IT, THIS IS JUST --IT'S A BAD LOOK FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

IT'S A BAD LOOK FOR OHIO.

IT'S A BAD LOOK FOR THE COUNTRY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WHEN IT COMES TO POLITICS, OHIO HAS LITTLE IN COMMON WITH NEW YORK OR CALIFORNIA.

.

MICHIGAN IS A DIFFERENT STORY.

SO LESSONS LEARNED FROM A MICHIGAN ELECTION ARE A LITTLE MORE VALUABLE THAN ONES FROM NEW YORK OR L. A. SO WHAT LESSONS CAN OHIO DEMOCRATS LEARN, WHAT LESSONS CAN REPUBLICANS LEARN FROM ELZ'S LEFT PROGRESSIVE VICTORY IN THAT STATE'S SENATE PRIMARY THIS WEEK, CAN WE READ ANYTHING INTO THAT?

>> VERY LITTLE.

AND I SAY VERY LITTLE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAD ASKED, WHAT ARE THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS IN OHIO, THERE'S SOME AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

YOU FIRST HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTION, WHAT DO WE MEAN BY DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST.

I THINK FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IT MEANS, BASICALLY, PEOPLE WHO FAVOR A MORE EXPANSIVE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDING SERVICES, WHETHER IT'S CHILD CARE, WHETHER IT'S UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT NOW I THINK THE CHALLENGE FOR DEMOCRATS IS TO NOT LET THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DEFINE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM AS COMMUNISM, AS SUPPORT FOR TRANS, AS A WHOLE VARIETY OF THINGS THAT REALLY ARE NOT PART OF THE ECONOMIC AGENDA.

I WOULD SAY THAT BERNIE SANDERS IS A DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST.

I WOULD SAY ELIZABETH WARREN IS.

AND SHERROD BROWN WOULD NEVER USE THAT TERM, BUT HE'S BEEN FIGHTING FOR THE WORKING CLASS, YOU KNOW, IN OUR PAST HISTORY, I'D SAY IN SOME WAYS, HOWARD.

>> JESSIE, THE ECONOMIC MESSAGE SEEMS --WHATEVER THE LABELS ARE, SOCIALIST, COMMUNIST, DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST --THE ECONOMIC MESSAGE, YOU KNOW, GET THE MONEY OUT OF POLITICS, PUT IT IN YOUR POCKET.

THAT WAS KIND OF EL-SAYED'S CATCH PHRASE.

I'M NOT QUOTING EXACT, BUT THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT HE WAS SAYING.

>> I THINK THE MESSAGE IS IMPORTANT, BUT I THINK THE LABELS ARE BEING USED.

YOU SEE REPUBLICANS LABELING EVERYONE AS A SOCIALIST, A COMMUNIST, AND SO FORTH.

AND SO I THINK THE BRAND COULD USE A LITTLE BIT OF WORK, PARTICULARLY IN STATES LIKE OHIO.

YOU SEE DEMOCRATIC OHIO GOVERNOR CANDIDATE AMY ACTON TALKING ABOUT HOW SHE WANTS TO PUT REPUBLICANS ON HER CABINET.

SHE TALKS ABOUT HOW SHE SUPPORTS WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAID.

SHE HAD SOME OTHER COMMENTS ABOUT LIKE TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS THAT DREW SOME FRUSTRATION AND, LIKE, BACKLASH FROM HER OWN PARTY.

SO THOSE ARE MORE MODERATE POSITIONS THAN, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS THE MORE PROGRESSIVE WING OF THE PARTY.

>> SO SHOULD REPUBLICANS JUST SAY, OKAY, THE PERSON'S A SOCIALIST AND WRITE THEM OFF, OR SHOULD THEY PAY A LITTLE MORE ATTENTION TO WHAT THAT SOCIALIST IS SAYING?

>> THEY WILL, MY PEOPLE, MY REPUBLICANS, WILL CONTINUE TO HAMMER HOME ON, THIS BUT IN REALITY, IT WILL BE LIKE POURING WATER OVER A ROCK.

IT WILL LOOK WET, NOTHING WILL SOAK IN.

THEY'RE NOT FOCUSED ON THAT.

THEY'RE FOCUSED ON, YOU KNOW, YOU GO BACK TO THE ECONOMY HERE.

REMEMBER, IF PEOPLE WHO PLAY THE LOTTERY AND WIN VERY SELDOM STAY WITH THEIR JOB.

THEIR JOB IS A MEANS TO THE END, AND THAT END IS TO SATISFY THE FIVE CORE VALUES, OKAY?

SO THEY'RE NOT SPEAKING TO THOSE CORE VALUES.

THEY'RE OFF ON THESE TANGENTS, AND IT'S JUST NOT WHAT PEOPLE ARE FOCUSED ON.

>> IS THE TERM SOCIALIST -- I MEAN, FOLKS AROUND THIS TABLE EXPLAIN THE HISTORY, THE RED MENACE, ALL THAT, BUT FOR YOUNGER FOLKS, SOCIALIST IS WHATEVER.

I DON'T THINK IT HAS THE SAME MEANING.

>> I THINK SOME OF THE PEOPLE, INCLUDING DONALD TRUMP, WHO ARE THROWING OUT WORDS LIKE COMMUNIST AND SOCIALIST ARE REPRESENTING AN EARLIER GENERATION WHERE THAT SORT OF POLITICS DID WORK.

THE McCARTHY ROY COHN ERA DID WORK.

TRUMP WAS KIND OF A PRODIGY OF ROY COHN.

IF SOMEHOW YOU CAN DEFINE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST --AND HERE'S WHERE EL-SAYED IN MICHIGAN HAS A LITTLE BIT OF A PROBLEM --AT ONE POINT HE TALKED ABOUT DEFUNDING THE POLICE.

THAT'S NOT A PART OF DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM.

THE WHOLE QUESTION OF HOW MUCH SUPPORT OR WHAT WEAPONS YOU SELL TO ISRAEL, THAT'S NOT A PART OF DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM.

REPUBLICANS LOOK AT THEY HAVE A BAD ECONOMY AND AN UNPOPULAR PRESIDENT, HOW CAN THEY WIN AN ELECTION?

THEY CAN WIN BY TRYING TO DEMONIZE THE DEMOCRATS.

SO YOU'LL CALL THEM EVERY NAME POSSIBLE AND HOPE THAT SOMETHING STICKS.

LIKE WITH GENE, SOME OF THIS JUST IS INCREDIBLE.

>> MEDICARE FOR ALL, IS THERE ANY WAY THAT AMY ACTON CAN SAY I SUPPORT MEDICARE FOR ALL?

AND WIN IN OHIO.

>> I MEAN, SHE ISN'T, AND SO SHE PROBABLY HAS SEEN THE NUMBERS, THAT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO GO OVER WELL WITH THE REPUBLICANS AND MAYBE EVEN INDEPENDENTS IN THE STATE OF OHIO, BUT APPARENTLY AN IDEA THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

I DO THINK ALSO YOU'RE JUST SEEING SUPPORT FOR OUTSIDER, NONESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATES.

YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO HASN'T BEEN IN GOVERNMENT FOREVER, AND AGAIN, YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

THESE ARE BOTH CANDIDATES WHO HAVE NEVER RUN FOR ELECTION OFFICE BEFORE.

AND THOSE IN THE SENATE RACE ARE SAYING, THE OTHER GUY'S BEEN HERE LONGER, EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE BEEN THERE QUITE A LONG TIME.

>> AMY ACTON AND SHERROD BROWN, NOT THE SAME EXCITEMENT AROUND THEM.

AMY ACTON'S MORE EMPATHETIC THAN EXCITING.

>> IN MICHIGAN, IF ABDUL EL-SAYED COULD ACTUALLY WIN, THAT WOULD BE AN INDICATOR THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A FANTASTIC DEMOCRATIC YEAR NATIONALLY, BECAUSE HE'S RUNNING AGAINST AN OPPONENT, MIKE ROGERS, WHO LOST TWO YEARS AGO BY ONLY A PERCENTAGE POINT OR TWO.

A VERY CREDIBLE REPUBLICAN.

MIKE ROGERS WOULD BE SMART TO NOT LINK HIMSELF TOO MUCH TO DONALD TRUMP, AND YOU KNOW, SAY HE SUPPORTS TRUMP WHEN HE DOES, BUT HE'LL DISAGREE.

EL-SAYED COULD WIN BECAUSE THEY INCREASE THE TURNOUT, LOT OF ENTHUSIASM, OR HE COULD CONVINCE VOTER WHAT IS A DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST IS IS SOMEBODY WHO'S FIGHTING FOR YOU.

IF HE CAN DO THAT, THEN I THINK IT'S A GOOD DEMOCRATIC YEAR.

>> SO I'VE ALREADY GOTTEN A TEXT MESSAGE FROM MIKE ROGERS SAYING, GIVE ME MONEY, SO I CAN GO AND SUPPORT DONALD TRUMP.

>> YEAH, SO HE'S TYING HIMSELF VERY CLOSELY TO HIM.

>> BIG MISTAKE.

>> WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT, NEXT TOPIC, GETTING CLOSER.

THERE ARE NO STATEWIDE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS IN OHIO.

THEY'RE AT THE -- >> ACCORDING TO THE BLISS INSTITUTE, WE'RE FIVE SEPARATE SYSTEMS BASED ON FIVE SETTLEMENT PATTERNS.

GO UP TO NORTHEAST OHIO WHERE IT WAS ALWAYS PART OF THE CONNECTICUT RESERVE.

AND THEY ARE MUCH MORE LIKE CONNECTICUT THAN THEY ARE LIKE ANYWHERE ELSE.

>> WELL, I THINK WE ONCE HAD SOMEBODY WHO WOULD BE CONSIDERED A VERY STRONG PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL, AND THAT WAS HOWARD.

BUT HE DID A GREAT JOB OF CONVERTING THAT LIBERALISM, WHICH AT TIMES HAD A VERY NEGATIVE CONNOTATION, TO SAY, NO, I'M FIGHTING FOR THE WORKING CLASS AND THE MIDDLE CLASS.

AND SO WHEN HE WENT AFTER BIG PHARMA, HE DIDN'T JUST SAY THEY'RE GREEDY HE WOUND UP SAYING, WHY DON'T THEY DO RESEARCH ON DRUGS FOR DISEASES THAT HURT A LOT OF PEOPLE, EVEN IF THEY DON'T MAKE A LOT OF PROFIT ON THEM.

>> YEAH.

>> LET'S GET TO OUR LAST TOPIC.

LAST WEEK AMY ACTON SAID SHE WOULD IMPOSE A CONDITIONAL MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTERS IF SHE BECAME GOVERNOR .

THIS WEEK HER REPUBLICAN OPPONENT TOUGHENED HIS STANCE ON DATA CENTERS.

UP UNTIL NOW, VIVEK RAMASWAMY SAID DATA CENTERS ARE GOOD FOR OHIO SO LONG AS THEY PAID FOR THEIR OWN POWER.

HIS NEW PLAN GOES FURTHER.

HE WANTS DATA CENTERS TO PAY THE ELECTRIC BILLS OF FAMILIES WHO LIVE NEARBY.

HE WOULD BAN DATA CENTER PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENTS.

HE WOULD MANDATE THEY FOLLOW STRICT CLEAN AIR AND WATER STANDARDS AND HE WANTS TO PRIORITIZE INDUSTRIAL SITES FOR THE CENTERS TO PROTECT FARMLAND.

GENE KREBS, IS THIS ENOUGH TO SATISFY FOLKS IN RURAL WESTERN OHIO?

>> NOT AT ALL.

SO A COUPLE RESPONSES HERE.

ONE, THEY ACTUALLY --I HAVE NOT SEEN THE ARTICLE, BUT SOMEBODY INTERVIEWED THE YOUNG MAN FROM ADAMS COUNTY WHO HAD THE PETITION FOR A COMPLETE BAN ON DATA CENTERS.

HE SAID, I DON'T WANT FREE ELECTRICITY, I DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THEM.

I DON'T WANT THE LIGHT POLLUTION FROM THEM.

I DON'T WANT THEM TAKING ALL MY WATER.

OKAY?

IT'S ABOUT, ONCE AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO IT'S THE VALUES OF LIFE.

IT'S THE QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND I KNOW YOU GET PEOPLE ON HERE ALL THE TIME WHO SAY, OH, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE POCKETBOOK, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE POCKETBOOK.

JIM RHODES IS STILL DEAD, OKAY?

IT'S NOW ABOUT VALUES, AND IT'S BEEN THAT WAY SINCE THE '90s.

>> SO JESSIE, RAMASWAMY IS THE THIRD GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE TO COME OUT WITH HIS DATA CENTER PLAN, BECAUSE THE LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE THIS WEEK, HE WANTS AN IMMEDIATE BAN ON DATA CENTERS.

AT LEAST A HALT IN CONSTRUCTION.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, IT SHOWS ME THAT ALL OF THE GOVERNOR CANDIDATES ARE LOOKING AT THE SAME SITUATION.

THEY KNOW THAT THESE ARE EXTREMELY UNPOPULAR WITH PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEARBY.

THEY'RE UNPOPULAR WITH ENVIRONMENTALISTS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED WITH THE NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS AND THE SECRECY AROUND THESE.

THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY HORRIBLE PR FOR DATA CENTERS RIGHT NOW.

AND SO EACH CANDIDATE IS TRYING TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO SAY I'M GOING TO TACKLE THIS ISSUE THAT YOU CARE ABOUT.

>> DON KISSICK IS THE LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE, I SHOULD SAY.

>> FREE ELECTRICITY.

STRINGS ATTACHED.

BASICALLY, IF A DATA CENTER GENERATES ITS OWN POWER THROUGH A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT OR SOME KIND OF POWER PLANT ON THE PROPERTY, SOLAR PERHAPS, THE EXTRA WOULD GO BACK TO THE NEARBY RESIDENTS AND THEY, WOULD GET FREE POWER.

>> YEAH, NO, LOOK, THIS IS CLEARLY THE RAMASWAMY CAMPAIGN ADVISORS ARE VERY SAVVY, AND THEY SAID, OH, THIS IS BECOMING AN ISSUE.

WE NEED TO POSITION VIVEK ON THAT ISSUE.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO ALREADY --IT'S ONLY BEEN OUT A COUPLE DAYS --DON'T THINK IT'S CREDIBLE.

WE KNOW WHY HE'S DOING IT, BECAUSE THIS IS AN ISSUE.

IT'S ALSO AN ISSUE IN THE U. S. SENATE RACE.

ONE OF THE MAJOR CHARGES THAT SHERROD BROWN IS LEVELING AGAINST JOHN IS BASICALLY GIVING AWAY THE STORE FOR DATA CENTERS OR WHATEVER.

SO IN FACT, ACTUALLY, THE EMPHASIS IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE MAY HAVE A SPILLOVER EFFECT AND BE HELPFUL TO SHERROD BROWN AND HURT JOHN IN THE U. S. SENATE RACE.

THESE DATA CENTERS, I THINK WE KNOW, WHY DID THEY COME TO OHIO?

BECAUSE LAND, WATER, ELECTRICITY, AND DECENT TRANSPORTATION ROUTES TO GET THE EQUIPMENT THERE TO MANUFACTURE THESE PLANTS.

A LOT OF COMMUNITIES, NOT NEW ALBANY, BUT SOME OF THE SMALLER COMMUNITIES THOUGHT, OH MY GOD, WE'RE GETTING A DATA CENTER, THIS IS GREAT.

AS WE KNOW, THERE AREN'T MANY PERMANENT JOBS.

THERE ARE JOBS CREATED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, AND AFTER THE CENTER'S FINISHED, THERE ARE JOBS FOR THE REPAIR PEOPLE.

BUT THIS IS NOT QUITE THE DEAL.

SO A MORATORIUM MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

>> --THAT HAS TO BE MUSIC TO THE FOLKS IN YOUR AREA.

>> IF HE CAN GET THE WORD OUT.

IF HE CAN GET ENOUGH MONEY TO DO SOME FACEBOOK ADS, WORD OF MOUTH, YES, OTHERWISE, NO.

I'M OFTEN WRONG ON YOUR SHOW.

I'M OFTEN WRONG ON YOUR SHOW.

BUT --YEAH.

BUT IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR, I SAT IN ONE OF THESE SEATS, AND I SAID THIS IS --THIS DATA CENTER THING IS A TOXIC TOPIC.

AND I WAS TALKING TO A YOUNG DEMOCRAT LAW MAKER FROM NORTHEAST OHIO.

AND AND THIS ISSUE OF DATA CENTERS CAME UP.

AND WHAT HE SAID WAS YOU'VE NOT SEEN IT RESOLVED YET BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT DONE DRAINING ALL THE MONEY THEY CAN OUT OF THE INDUSTRIES YET FROM CAMPAIGN DONATIONS.

AND SO THEY'RE KEEPING THIS ALIVE.

SO THAT'S WHY THEY HAVEN'T PASSED THAT BILL YET, HE SAID.

AND I'M SITTING THERE GOING, OH MY GOSH, YOU'VE BEEN HERE NOT VERY MANY YEARS, AND YOU'VE GOT THAT NAILED.

>> THAT'S --ALL OF THESE CANDIDATE, JESSIE, HAVE A BALANCE.

AMY ACTON WANTS A MORATORIUM, BUT SHE'S NOT SAYING DON'T BUILD THEM.

THEY'VE GOT TO HAVE YUNIOR LABOR.

THEY'VE GOT TO BE ON BROWN FIELDS.

VIVEK RAMASWAMY WAS SAYING MORE, YOU CAN BUILD THEM, JUST PLAY BY THESE RULES.

SO THEY'RE NOT SAYING BAN THEM COMPLETELY.

THEY'RE TRYING TO BALANCE THE TWO INTERESTS THERE.

>> RIGHT.

NEITHER ACTON NOR RAMASWAMY IS SAYING YOU CANNOT BRING THESE TO OHIO.

THEY'RE TRYING TO EXACT SOME CONCESSIONS FROM THEM.

RAMASWAMY SAYING PAY FOR ELECTRIC BILLS, PAY FOR PROPERTY TAXES.

ACTON SAYING USE 100% LABOR -- UNION LABOR, BUILD THESE ON BROWN FIELDS, NOT FARMLANDS.

AND SO THERE IS NEGOTIATIONS TO BE MADE HERE, BUT A LOT OF THESE WILL ALSO HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE THAT WAS UNABLE TO COME TO A CONCLUSION AT THE END OF JUNE, SO IT IS COMPLICATED.

>> ONE THING THAT'S VERY INTERESTING HERE IS THAT WHAT ACTON PROPOSED IS ALMOST EXACTLY, ALMOST WORD FOR WORD, WHAT THE OHIO FARM BUREAU ORGANIZATION HAS REQUESTED.

TO HAVE A DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR AND FARM BUREAU, WHICH IS NORMALLY A VERY REPUBLICAN-LEANING ORGANIZATION.

THEY'RE NONPARTISAN, BUT THEY LEAN REPUBLICAN.

OVERLAP LIKE THAT IS JUST AMAZING.

>> THOSE FOLKS VOTE FOR HER IN NOVEMBER BECAUSE OF THAT.

>> RIGHT NOW, MANY OF MY PEOPLE ARE NOT VOTING IN THAT ELECTION FOR GOVERNOR AT ALL.

AND THEY'RE STAYING HOME.

WE CAN GO INTO THAT LATER.

BUT IF IT'S BETWEEN ACTON AND RAMASWAMY WHO HAS MORE CREDIBILITY ON THIS ISSUE, I WOULD SAY THAT ACTON DOES.

ONLY BECAUSE OF HER PAST RECORD AND HIS PAST COMMENTS IN SUPPORT OF DATA CENTERS.

BUT THE KEY IS THE LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW --IF HE CAN GET 8% OF THE VOTE -- >> IT'S OVER.

IT'S OVER AT 4%.

TWO-THIRDS OF HIS VOTE WILL COME FROM REPUBLICANS.

AND THAT WILL CHANGE THE OUTCOME.

>> IT WILL.

>> HE HAS TO --COULD DEMOCRATS THROW SOME MONEY HIS WAY, GENE?

>> THEY DID THAT IN 2024 IN THE MARCY CAPTOR RACE, THEY THREW IN $434,000 OF DEMOCRAT DARK MONEY.

LIBERTARIANS IN OHIO PRETTY MUCH STANDARD GET 4% TO 7%.

IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE.

BUT MY PEOPLE, IT'S, FOR THEM, MORATORIUM, BAN.

IT'S NOT ABOUT --IT'S ANTIQUATED TO TALK ABOUT JOBS, POCKETBOOK, NO.

THE JOB IS A MEANS TO THE END.

YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE END TO UNDERSTAND WHAT PEOPLE ARE REALLY THINKING.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET TO OUR FINAL OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOTS.

GENE KREBS, YOU'RE UP FIRST.

>> I WAS TALKING TO A COUNTY OFFICIAL IN KROGER'S THE OTHER DAY, AND FOR MY COUNTY AND RURAL OHIO, AND THIS PERSON INFORMED ME THAT THEY'D GOTTEN A PHONE CALL FROM TWO, TWO PENTECOSTAL CHURCHES DEMANDING THEY TAKE THEIR NAME OFF RAMASWAMY'S ENDORSEMENT LIST.

THEY HAD TO DEAL WITH RELIGIOUS ISSUES, AND THIS PERSON DID NOT TAKE THEIR NAME OFF, BUT IT'S A SIGN OF TROUBLE FOR RAMASWAMY THAT THE PENTECOSTALS ARE BEGINNING TO -- WE WARNED THEM, MOBILIZE ON THIS.

>> HERB?

>> WITHIN SEVEN MONTHS, JD VANCE WILL EITHER BE THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> WOW, THAT'S A -- >> I'M NOT GOING TO ELABORATE.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME.

>> WRITE THAT DOWN.

JESSIE?

>> THERE'S SO FEW THINGS THAT UNITE OHIOANS NOW, BUT THE FIGHT BETWEEN BUC-EE'S AND BEAVER CREEK IS ONE OF THEM.

>> I DON'T GET BUC-EE'S, AND I DON'T GET THIS FIGHT, BUT IF CLEAN RESTROOMS IS YOUR SELLING POINT FOR A GAS STATION ON THE HIGHWAY, THAT'S A PRETTY LOW BAR.

SO HOPE THEY WORK OUT THIS BUC-EE'S THING AND THEY CAN GET THE RODENTS WHERE THEY BELONG.

ANYWAY, THAT IS COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD FOR THIS WEEK.

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FOR OUR CREW AND PANEL, I'M MIKE THOMPSON, HAVE A GOOD WEEK.