>> WILL OHIO SEE A BLUE WAVE OR A REDWALL?

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

WE REPORTERS AND PUNDITS HAVE TALKED FOR MONTHS.

CAMPAIGNS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

CANDIDATES HAVE YELLED THEMSELVES A HORSE.

OHIOANS HAVE STUDIED THE ISSUES, THEY HAVE WATCHED OR MUTED OR SKIP TO THE MANY CAMPAIGN COMMERCIALS, THEY HAVE READ AND RECYCLED THE MAILERS, AND NOW IT IS TIME TO VOTE.

VOTERS WILL DECIDE WHO WILL BE OHIO'S NEXT GOVERNOR, WHO WILL REPRESENT THEM IN THE U. S. SENATE, CONGRESS, AND OTHER STATEWIDE OFFICES.

ON THIS, OUR LAST SHOW BEFORE ELECTION DAY, WE WILL EXAMINE THE LATEST NEWS AND SUGGEST THINGS TO LOOK FOR ON ELECTION DAY.

OUR PANEL THIS WEEK: REPORTER JESSIE BALMERT FROM THE USA TODAY OHIO NETWORK, REPORTER JAKE ZUCKERMAN FROM SINGLE STATEWIDE, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST MIKE GONIDAKIS, AND PROGRESSIVE ACTIVIST MORGAN HARPER.

AS WE GET TO THE END OF THIS CAMPAIGN, WHAT STICKS OUT, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR TAKE AWAY HEADLINE IF YOU COULD PICK ONE?

>> GOSH, WE HAVE BEEN ON SUCH A JOURNEY SINCE 2025, I FEEL LIKE, ON THIS RACE, SERENELY AS WE COME DOWN, THE ISSUES WILL HAVE BEEN AFFORDABILITY, AND ELECTION HAS BEEN ABOUT PERSONALITY, ALMOST MORE THAN POLICY, ESPECIALLY IN THE OHIO GOVERNOR'S RACE.

YOU HAVE SEEN THAT IN THE ADS, YOU HAVE SEEN THAT IN THE PERSONAL ATTACKS, SO IT HAS BEEN A REALLY FASCINATING RACE TO COVER.

>> JAKE, WHEN VOTERS GO TO POLLS, ARE THEY VOTING FOR THE CANDIDATE OR PARTY THEY LIKE OR ARE THEY VOTING FOR THE CANDIDATE OR PARTY THEY OPPOSE?

WHAT'S DRIVING THEM?

>> I THINK THAT NEGATIVE FORCES REALISTICALLY DRIVE POLITICS RIGHT NOW.

THERE HAS BEEN JUST A SOUR MOOD IN THE AIR SINCE ABOUT 2020.

I THINK IT'S --MORE THAN ANY CANDIDATE THEY LIKE OR DON'T LIKE, IT'S INCUMBENCY , THAT IS ACTUALLY BEEN TRUE AROUND THE WORLD, THAT PEOPLE ARE JUST MAD AT THE MAN OR WOMAN IN POWER RIGHT NOW, I THINK THAT IS REALLY [ INAUDIBLE ].

>> OKAY, LOOK AT THE TWO BIG RACES, GOVERNOR AND U. S. SENATE.

THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, WE DON'T KNOW WHO THESE CANDIDATES ARE.

WE GOT FAMILIAR WITH THEM DURING THE CAMPAIGN, THEY NEVER SERVED IN OFFICE.

THE SENATE SIDE, THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

>> ONE LONGER THAN THE OTHER, BROWN HAS BEEN IN PROGRESS FOR 50 YEARS OR SO, BUT JOHN SERVED IN OHIO.

[ INAUDIBLE ] SURE, SURE.

THE END OF THE DAY, MIKE, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN 16 YEARS, I CAN'T CONFIDENTLY PREDICT WHO IS GOING TO WIN THE RACES HERE IN OHIO.

AND IT'S HISTORICAL.

LOOK, THE SECOND TERM OF THE PRESIDENT, TRUMP IS IN BETWEEN YEARS WITH BIDEN, BUT IN 2014 WHEN OBAMA HAD HIS SECOND TERM IN THE MIDTERMS, HE GOT WASHED.

BUSH IN 2006, I LIVED IT, WE ALL LIVED HERE, REPUBLICANS GOT WHITEWASHED, SO WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN HERE?

YOU MENTIONED BLUE WAVE TO START THE SHOW TODAY, I THINK OHIO COULD BE A REDWALL FOR SOME OF THAT.

[ INAUDIBLE ] BUT IT'S FASCINATING THIS GO AROUND BECAUSE AS JAKE SAID, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE UPSET, THEY'RE UPSET AT INCUMBENCY, THE GAS PRICES, THERE ARE ALL THESE DOCTORS COMING IN THAT WE USUALLY HAVEN'T SEEN POINT USUALLY ONE OR TWO OF THESE FACTORS IMPACT ELECTION, NOW YOU GOT LIKE 10 OF THESE FACTORS HAPPENING NOW, ON TOP OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A PRESIDENT, SECOND TERM, MIDTERM ELECTION.

>> WHEN WE LOOK AT DEMOCRATS AROUND THE COUNTRY, OTHER RACES, THEY ARE CREATING A LOT OF EXCITEMENT.

I DON'T GET THE FEELING THAT THESE CANDIDATES, AMY ACTON AND SHERROD BROWN HAVE THE SAME ENTHUSIASM FROM THEIR DEMOCRATIC SUPPORTERS.

>> I THINK ANOTHER WAY TO MAYBE THINK ABOUT THAT IS PICKING UP ON SOMETHING THAT JAKE SAID ABOUT THE DESIRE FOR OUTSIDER.

I THINK THERE IS A STRONG DESIRE TO SEE PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T SERVED IN OFFICE BEFORE.

I THINK WE CERTAINLY HAVE THAT IN AMY ACTON, AND THAT IS GENERATING MORE ENTHUSIASM FOR HER, BUT I AGREE WITH YOU, I THINK A LOT OF THE RACES THAT WE ARE SEEING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THAT ARE GENERATING A LOT OF EXCITEMENT, THOSE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE EXERCISING A POPULIST AGENDA.

WE HAVE HAD TRACES OF THAT WITH THESE RACES, OUR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES, BUT NOT A FULLBORE DIFFERENT AGENDA, SO I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE INTERPRETATION OF THE RESULTS OF THIS RACE WILL PROBABLY BE A LITTLE LESS RELEVANT FOR WHAT SHOULD BE OUR LONG-TERM STRATEGY, AND I THINK MY MAIN TAKE AWAY FROM THIS IS IT IS A VERY PARTICULAR ELECTION CYCLE WITH A LOT OF PECULIARITIES THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO THESE --THIS SET OF CANDIDATES.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE AFFORDABILITY WAS NUMBER ONE, SO THE SOCIAL ISSUES HAVE BEEN THERE.

THE ARGUMENTS OVER TRANS RIGHTS IN PARTICULAR, THERE THERE, BUT THEY'RE NOT PLAYING QUITE AS PROMINENT A ROLE THIS TIME AROUND AS THEY DID TWO YEARS AGO, AND SHERROD BROWN LOST POINT >> YEAH, I THINK YOU HEAR PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT GAS PRICES, YOU HEAR PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT DATA CENTERS, THAT HAS BECOME A MASSIVE ISSUE, AND SHERROD BROWN AND JON HUSTED HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT IN THE SENATE RACE.

TALK ABOUT PROPERTY VALUES, WE SAW THE INFLATION INCREASE IN THE 2023, FOLKS HAVE REALLY BEEN FEELING.

SO, THIS KIND OF POCKETBOOK ISSUES.

I KNOW AFTER THE 2023 ELECTION WHEN THE ABORTION AMENDMENT AND THE MARIJUANA AMENDMENT PASSED, THERE WAS A LOT OF DESIRE TO MAKE THOSE ISSUES INTO ONE PARTY'S PLATFORM OR THE OTHER, AND IT JUST WASN'T CARRYING THE CANDIDATES SO MUCH AS IT WAS THE INDIVIDUAL ISSUES.

>> WE HAD INFLATION TWO YEARS AGO, JAKE, AND IT WAS A BIG ISSUE, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A BIGGER ISSUE THIS TIME AROUND.

WHY IS THAT, DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, INFLATION IS CUMULATIVE, RIGHT?

INFLATION TWO YEARS AGO PUSHES PRICES UP, THEY DON'T TEND TO COME BACK DOWN.

YEAR-OVER-YEAR OF INFLATION IS STILL IN THE LAST CYCLE 3.

7%, ABOUT 2% IS CONSIDERED HEALTHY IN AN ECONOMY, SO IT IS STILL UP.

MY SENSE IS THAT VOTERS ARE ABLE TO DRAW THE LINES TO COMPLEX POLICY ISSUES.

OKAY, INFLATION IS UP, WHY?

THERE ARE PRETTY SIMPLE ANSWERS TO THAT QUESTION.

THERE ARE TARIFFS PUSHING PRICES UPWARD, THERE ARE GAS PRICES CAUSED BY A WAR --YOU KNOW, 2022, WE HAD A LOT OF INFLATION, BUT YOU COULD PRETTY CREDIBLY POINT TO ONE COUNTRY IS A FOREIGN INVASION OF ANOTHER, NOT A LOT THE U. S. COULD DO ABOUT THAT, BUT THE U. S. INSTIGATED A WAR THAT HAS DRIVEN PRICES UP, THE U. S. HAS INSTIGATED TARIFFS THAT HAVE DRIVEN THE PRICES UP [ INAUDIBLE ] >> HE WOULD REVERSE INFLATION AND THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.

LET'S GET INTO THE RACE IS A LITTLE MORE DEEPLY.

IF WE BELIEVE THE POLLS, VIVEK RAMASWAMY'S AD WITH AMY ACTON'S ESTRANGED MOTHER DID NOT HELP HIM AND MAY HAVE HURT HIM.

A SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY POLL DONE FOR THE USA TODAY OHIO NETWORK SHOWS ACTON WITH A FOUR POINT LEAD OVER RAMASWAMY, 48% FOR ACTON, 44% FOR RAMASWAMY.

THAT'S BARELY OUTSIDE THE MARGIN OF ERROR.

72% OF THE PEOPLE SURVEYED SAID THEY SAW THE AD BUT HARDLY ANYONE SAID IT CHANGE THEIR MIND ON WHO TO VOTE FOR.

RAMASWAMY'S DISAPPROVAL RATING KICKED UP A BIT.

AS OF THURSDAY, BROUGHT RAMASWAMY CAMPAIGN HAD STOPPED RUNNING THE AD ON TELEVISION.

MIKE GONIDAKIS, HELPED HIM, HURT HIM, THEN WATCH?

>> I THINK ULTIMATELY, IT'S BEEN A LOSS.

[ INAUDIBLE ] AS YOU SAID, THE AD GOT PULLED, THEY MUST NOT BE A FAN OF IT EITHER.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, POLITICS HAS BECOME SO POLARIZING.

IF YOUR CANDIDATE DOES SOMETHING YOU DISAPPROVAL, YOU STILL GOING TO THE VOTING BOOTH, HOLD YOUR NOSE, AND VOTE FOR THEM, RIGHT?

VERY FEW PEOPLE SAY I VOTED REPUBLICAN MY ENTIRE LIFE, BUT BECAUSE MIKE CANDIDATE DID THIS X THING, I'M VOTING FOR THE DEMOCRAT AMY ACTON.

IT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN ANYMORE BECAUSE OF THE POLARIZATION OF WHO WE ARE.

SOME PEOPLE MIGHT JUST SIT THE WHOLE RACE OUT ALTOGETHER OR I'M JUST NOT GOING TO VOTE, BUT DIDN'T MOVE THE NEEDLE?

I DON'T THINK IT WILL.

IT HIGHLIGHTED THIS RACE TO A NATIONAL LEVEL.

I THINK THERE IS AN OLIVIA RODRIGO CONCERT ON THE CAMPUS, SHE CAME OUT WITH A [ INAUDIBLE ] T-SHIRT ON, SO I THINK IT HAS NATIONALIZED OUR RACE, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE MINDS OF THE VOTERS IN OHIO.

>> CANDIDATES OFTEN TRY TO MAKE THE CLOSING SALE, HERE'S WHO I AM, WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR ME.

DID THAT AD, MORGAN, HELPED AMY ACTON AND SHE IS ABLE TO RETELL THE ORIGIN STORY OF HER YOUNG SON, WHICH IS KIND OF A COMPELLING STORY?

>> YEAH, I DID THINK IT HELPED WITH THAT.

HERE IS A FUN MOMENT, I THINK I AGREE WITH [ INAUDIBLE ] TO AN EXTENT IN THAT IT IS NOT A NEW MESSAGE COMING OUT.

I ACTUALLY THINK AMY HAS DR.

STORY, THE REALITY IS THERE'S NO REASON TO CHANGE.

IT'S KIND OF WORKING BECAUSE VIVEK IS SUCH A BAD CANDIDATE.

AND I THINK AS PEOPLE PLUG INTO THIS AND SEE IF HE REPRESENTS A STYLE OF POLITICS WHERE THERE IS NO LIMITS, IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU, IT ALSO TIES INTO THE ECONOMIC ISSUE THAT THERE ARE THESE RICH GUYS THAT ARE JUST DOING WHATEVER THEY WANT.

I THINK IT COULD BE MOTIVATING MORE PEOPLE TO TURN OUT, AND AMONGST THE SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT ONLY PLUG IN AT THE VERY END, THEY CAN LOOK THINGS UP, SEE THAT AD, AND NO, HEY, THIS ISN'T A GUY I REALLY WANT TO GET BEHIND.

>> JESSIE, WERE YOU SURPRISED THE [ INAUDIBLE ] ORGANIZATION SPONSORED THE POLL, WAS AT 1.

3% CHANGED THEIR MIND BECAUSE OF THE AD?

WERE YOU SURPRISED IT WAS THAT LOW?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT WAS INTERESTING, OURS WAS A LITTLE MORE MIXED, THERE WASN'T AS BIG OF AN IMPACT.

THERE WAS A REPUBLICAN POLE THAT WAS MUCH MORE NEGATIVE ON THAT AD FOR RAMASWAMY.

IT'S INTERESTING, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD ALREADY VOTED, BUT CERTAINLY YOU RUN ADS AT THE END BECAUSE YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING TO HELP YOU, YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING TO CONVINCE VOTERS TO COME OVER HERE TO YOUR SIDE, AND CERTAINLY THAT WASN'T THE CASE FOR RAMASWAMY.

>> THIS AD WAS AIMED AT FOLKS WHO WERE QUESTIONING VIVEK RAMASWAMY, BUT DID NOT LIKE AMY ACTON.

COULDN'T HAVE STOPPED RAMASWAMY'S DECLINE BY GETTING THE FOLKS WHO STILL HAVE A LOT OF OPPOSITION TO AMY ACTON'S ROLE IN COVID TO COME OUT NOW AND SAY I WASN'T SO SURE ABOUT VIVEK, BUT NOW I AM GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM?

>> I AM NOT TOTALLY SURE WHO -- I HAVE A LITTLE TROUBLE BELIEVING THE THEORY OF SOMEONE SEES THAT AD AND ASK AFFIRMATIVELY, SWITCHES SIDES .

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] THEY WERE GOING TO STAY HOME, NOW THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM.

>> IT COULD BE.

LOOK, I THINK YOU NEED GOOD POLLING BOTH BEFORE THAT AD AND AFTER THE AD TO REALLY KNOW WHAT IT DID.

AND I THINK AFTER 2016, I'VE TAKEN A TOTALLY AGNOSTIC APPROACH.

I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW THESE THINGS WILL INFLUENCE VOTERS, THERE ARE THESE BASIC MORAL PRECEPTS OF WHAT HAPPENED.

PEOPLE UNDERSTAND SOMEONE WHO DECIDED --WHO ALIGNED HERSELF WITH SOMEONE WHO IS ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ABUSING A CHILD.

I THINK WHEN VOTERS --VOTERS ARE ACTUALLY MORE INTELLIGENT, MORE CAPABLE ANALYSTS AND JUST CLEAR THOUGHTS THAT WE SOMETIMES GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR.

I STRUGGLE WITH THE THEORY OF SOMEONE ENCOUNTERING THAT AD, ENCOUNTERING THE FACTS ON THE AD, AND JUST AFFIRMATIVELY CHANGING THEIR VOTE.

>> IN THE LAST WEEK OR SO SINCE THAT AD CAME OUT, THE CONTROVERSY, RAMASWAMY CAME OUT WITH A SERIES OF POSITIVE ADS, TRIED TO CLOSE THE DEAL, WILL THEY BE SUCCESSFUL?

>> I THINK IT MIGHT.

I THINK THE VAST MAJORITY OF VOTERS DON'T SAY I NEED TO TURN ON THE TV AND WATCH A 32nd AD TO DECIDE HOW I VOTE.

[ INAUDIBLE ] I DON'T LOOK AT ANY OF IT.

BILLS IN MY RIGHT HAND, POLITICAL STUFF IN THE LEFT.

THE KEY FOR THE REPUBLICANS THIS TIME AROUND, AGAIN, MIDTERM ELECTIONS, PRESIDENT SECOND TIME, IS HOW MANY INDEPENDENTS ARE WE, BEING REPUBLICANS, GOING TO LOSE?

IF WE CAN SHRINK THAT MARGIN OF INDEPENDENCE, WE ARE GOING TO BE FINE ON ELECTION DAY POINT >> ANOTHER FACTOR WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY TOUCHED ON IS THERE IS A LIBERTARIAN IN THIS RACE, DON, AND IF HE IS ABLE TO PULL PERCENTAGE POINTS AND WHAT IS ALREADY A PRETTY CLOSE RACE, THAT WILL MAKE IT EVEN MORE INTERESTING ON ELECTION NIGHT POINT >> IT IS CONSISTENTLY 3 1/2 TO 4% IN MOST OF THE POLLS I HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST MONTH, SO IT COULD BE FOR AND A HALF PERCENT MARGIN HERE POINT >> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S WHY THIS IS REALLY GOING TO COME DOWN TO TURN OUT, BUT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT.

AGAIN, I STILL THINK YOU HAVE GOT THAT LATE VOTER THAT IS GOING TO WAIT UNTIL ELECTION DAY, THE GOOGLE OHIO GOVERNOR, THEY'RE GOING TO SEE THE COVERAGE OF THIS AD, IT'S GOING TO TURN A LOT OF PEOPLE OFF, I THINK YOU CAN HAVE THAT IMPACT.

BUT ON THE TURNOUT SIDE OF THINGS, THAT'S WHY I REALLY ENCOURAGED BY AMY DOING A LOT OF THESE EVENTS, CREATIVE STRATEGIES TO TURN PEOPLE OUT, PARTIES WITH DJs AND ALL OF THAT, THIS IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GET OVER THE FINISH LINE, ESPECIALLY THE POTENTIAL FOR THE LIBERTARIANS IMPACT THINGS.

>> DONALD TRUMP WAS [ INAUDIBLE ] IN THE PAST WEEK, THIRD TIME IN ABOUT A MONTH HE HAS BEEN HERE.

[ INAUDIBLE ] TO 4000 EACH TIME, HOW BIG A FACTOR WOULD THAT BE, JAKE, DO YOU THINK?

>> IT'S HARD TO SAY, BUT RAMASWAMY'S AD [ INAUDIBLE ] EVEN FURTHER, BUT THERE HAS BEEN THIS INTERESTING LITMUS TEST ABOUT IT WHERE THE PRESIDENT TRUMP AND JADE EVENTS HAVE COME OUT AND SAID DIFFERENT ITERATIONS OF THIS IS FINE, WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT OTHER THINGS, I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE AD.

AND MEANWHILE JON HUSTED, ROBERT SPRING COALITION HAS SAID VARIATIONS OF EITHER BAD AD OR I WOULDN'T HAVE RUN THE AD MYSELF.

SO, THE PEOPLE --LIKE DONALD TRUMP AND JADE EVENTS ARE COMING OUT AS THE FACES OF -- AT LEAST WHAT IS SHOWING UP IN POLLING, AS THIS UNPOPULARITY.

FOR THAT TO BE YOUR CLOSING VOICE, PEOPLE SEEM TO BE UNPOPULAR, AND IT SEEMS TO BE JUST THEM WERE COMING OUT IN THIS VERY PUBLIC WAY LIKE THIS, YOU HAVE GOT TO WONDER HOW THAT SHAKES ATTITUDES.

>> AS WE KNOW, COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD MATT BELISLE NOT ONE, BUT TWO TIMES FOR DOUBLE-DIGIT POINTS.

MAYBE NOT AS POPULAR AS HE WAS BECAUSE GAS IS AT $4.

50 A GALLON RIGHT NOW.

THE VICE PRESIDENT WAS HERE THREE TIMES.

[ INAUDIBLE ] IT IS THE MEDIA YOU GET OUT OF THAT.

THE 28 HOUR, 48 HOUR NEWS CYCLE, THAT'S WHY YOU CAME HERE AT THE 11th HOUR, PRESIDENT TRUMP, FOR THE THIRD TIME.

PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS HERE LAST SATURDAY IN CLEVELAND.

[ INAUDIBLE ] TRYING TO DRIVE TURNOUT IN CLEVELAND, WHICH IS REALLY CRUCIAL TO DEMOCRATS.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THIS IS THE TIME TO PULL OUT THE BIG GUNS, AND OBAMA CONTINUES TO BE A VERY POPULAR FIGURE IN DEMOCRATIC POLITICS, AND ESPECIALLY AMONGST A LOT OF BLACK VOTERS.

AND EVEN IF IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY DICTATE EXACTLY HOW SOMEONE IS GOING TO VOTE, I THINK AT A MINIMUM, ALSO JUST MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS THERE IS AN ELECTION.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE JUST A LOT OF PEOPLE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO ANYTHING AT ALL, AND YOU SEE A LITTLE CLIP ON SOCIAL MEDIA, OBAMA WAS HERE, THIS CHEESECAKE FACTORY THING.

LIKE YEAH, PEOPLE ARE RUNNING FOR THINGS, MAYBE I SHOULD VOTE.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] ANYWAY, THE RACE FOR U. S. SENATE REMAINS JUST AS TIGHT AS THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

THE SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY USA TODAY OHIO NETWORK PULL SHOWS SHERROD BROWN WITH A THREE POINT LEAD, WHICH IS WITHIN THAT POLL'S MARGIN OF ERROR.

MORGAN , SEEMS LIKE THIS HAS BEEN A PRETTY CONSISTENT POLL, HE SEEMS TO HAVE HIT HIS CEILING IN THE US POLLS.

DOES THAT WERE YOU THAT THE PEOPLE WHO LIKE THEM ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM AND JON HUSTED COULD SNEAK IT OUT?

>> THIS IS A TOSS-UP BASED ON DEFINITION BY THESE POLLING RESULTS, AND WITH ALL THE CAVEATS OF ACCURACY APPALLING, BUT I THINK IT DOES SEEM LIKE WE ARE IN TOXIC TERRITORY HERE, I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE BASED ON SOMETHING WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER.

THESE ARE KNOWN ENTITIES, I DON'T THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF SURPRISES OUT OF JON HUSTED AND SHERROD BROWN POLITICS AT THIS POINT, BUT I CONTINUE TO THINK THAT THE RACE THAT SHERROD HAS RUN AND REALLY HARPING ON THE DATA CENTERS AND THE CORRUPTION, WE HAVE MORE RECENT POLLING SHOWING HOW FRUSTRATED THE PUBLIC IS WITH CORRUPTION IN GOVERNMENT, IT'S THE RIGHT APPROACH, AND HOPEFULLY WILL BE ENOUGH TO GET THEM OVER THE FINISH LINE.

X JON HUSTED IS BASICALLY SAYING SHERROD BROWN HAS BEEN [ INAUDIBLE ] TOO LONG AND HE IS ALIGNED WITH JOE BIDEN, IS THAT ENOUGH?

>> WELL, I GUESS THE VOTERS WILL LET US KNOW IN A COUPLE OF DAYS.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, MIKE, SHERROD BROWN WAS VOTED OUT OF OFFICE TWO YEARS AGO FOR A REASON.

THE VOTERS HAD ENOUGH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, IT'S TIME FOR CHANGE.

I DON'T THINK THERE ARE ENOUGH VOTERS WERE GOING TO COME BACK AND SAY, WE GOT IT WRONG IN 2024, WE WANT YOU BACK IN 2026.

>> TRUMP [ INAUDIBLE ].

>> HE WAS FOUR YEARS AGO, HE CAME BACK, TRUE.

[ INAUDIBLE ] THE VOTERS TURNOUT, AS MORGAN SAID, IS ALL THAT MATTERS AT THE END OF THE DAY, BUT I DON'T THINK THE VOTERS ARE GOING TO SAY I GOT IT WRONG, COME BACK IN.

>> BUT LOOK AT WHAT THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN CONSISTING OF, WERE THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT THAT THEY SAID THEY WANTED TO, PRICES HAVE GONE UP, JOBS HAVE BEEN LOST, SO I DON'T KNOW, I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE RIGHT NOW AND OHIO PEOPLE ARE VERY TRANSIENT, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF LOYALTY, TALK ABOUT INDEPENDENCE, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE PLUGGING IN AND IT COULD BE ENOUGH.

>> JESSIE, WHEN YOU LOOK BACK, HOW DO THESE CANDIDATES BREAK?

THEY'RE BOTH WELL KNOWN FOR THE MOST PART, SHERROD BROWN PERHAPS MORE WELL-KNOWN THAN JON HUSTED, BUT HOW DOES THE ESTABLISHMENT -- [ INAUDIBLE ]?

>> YEAH, IT WILL BE REALLY INTERESTING HOW LIKE THE INCUMBENCY FACTOR PLAYS IN HERE, BECAUSE THERE WAS A POLL THAT SAID SOMETHING LIKE 25% OF PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT SHERROD BROWN WAS STILL A SENATOR IN OHIO, EVEN THOUGH HE OBVIOUSLY IS NOT.

SO, YOU KNOW, ARE YOU TRYING TO PUNISH JON HUSTED FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS OF THE REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION AND TRUMP, DO YOU THINK SHERROD BROWN HAS BEEN IN POLITICS FOR TOO LONG AND YOU WANT TO GET HIM OUT?

LIKE THERE ARE DEFINITELY REASONS WHERE THE INCUMBENCY FACTOR COULD HURT EITHER OF THESE TWO CANDIDATES, AND WHAT WILL BE THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] JON HUSTED'S ADS CALLED SENATOR SHERROD BROWN [ INAUDIBLE ].

SUCH ISSUES HAVE TAKEN A BACK SEAT.

WE MENTIONED EARLIER, BUT SOCIAL ISSUES HAVE TAKEN A BACK SEAT IN THIS CAMPAIGN TO LONGEVITY IN CONGRESS AND IN WASHINGTON AND DATA CENTERS AND ECONOMIC ISSUES.

>> YEAH, YEAH, THERE ARE TWO THINGS I THINK FOR THAT.

FOR ONE, MOST OF THESE LAWS -- IF YOU BELIEVE [ INAUDIBLE ] TRANSGENDER ROLE IN AMERICA, [ INAUDIBLE ] HAVE CHANGED, SO THERE ARE NO MORE TRANSGENDER ATHLETES PLAYING WOMEN'S SPORTS IN OHIO, SO HOW LONG CAN YOU KEEP TALKING ABOUT TRANSGENDER ATHLETES PLAYING WOMEN'S SPORTS IN OHIO?

AND ALSO RIGHT NOW, TO ME, THE SENATE RACE , FOR ONE, I THINK THESE TWO CANDIDATES HAVE BOTH BEEN AROUND SO LONG, I THINK THEY WILL LARGELY MIRROR JUST THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN- DEMOCRAT SPLIT, FOR RIGHT NOW, THE DEMOCRATS ARE BOOSTING -- LET ME TRY TO GET --THE DEMOCRATS ARE BOOSTING THE LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE, THE REPUBLICANS ARE BOOSTING THE SOCIALIST CANDIDATE.

WHAT IS THAT MARGIN GOING TO BE LIKE?

THE ONLY PREDICTION I'M CONFIDENT MAKING IS THE MARGIN BETWEEN THE TWO MAIN PARTY CANDIDATES WILL BE LESS THAN THAT.

I THINK THAT THESE TWO OUTSIDE PARTY CANDIDATES ARE REALLY GOING TO INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME OF THE RACE.

>> THE DEMOCRATS ACTUALLY PUBLISHED A MANNER [ INAUDIBLE ].

PERHAPS JON HUSTED IS NOT CONSERVATIVE ENOUGH.

IS THAT A [ INAUDIBLE ] EXPENSE?

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] >> YEAH, I MEAN, I DO AGREE THAT THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR THESE THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATES TO HAVE AN IMPACT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK GREG LEVY, THOUGH, THERE HAS BEEN RUMORS --HE IS THE SOCIALIST CANDIDATE, THAT HE WAS JUST PUT UP --I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW HIM PERSONALLY, BUT THAT HE WAS PUT UP TO DO THIS BY A REPUBLICAN.

I DON'T THINK THAT IS TRUE.

BUT I DO THINK --I HAVE GOTTEN FOUR MAILERS ABOUT HIM.

AND HE IS RUNNING ON SOME OF THOSE POLICIES THAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY RUNNING ON, AND SO, COULD HAVE AN IMPACT?

IT'S POSSIBLE.

I CERTAINLY HOPE NOT, BUT YEAH.

ONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO BOOST THEM FOR SURE.

>> WILL THE LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE, SOCIALIST CANDIDATE PLAY A ROLE HERE?

[ INAUDIBLE ] >> YEAH, I DON'T THINK SO, TOO BIG OF A STATE, TOO MANY PEOPLE VOTING.

IF IT WAS A LOCAL STATE REP RACE, MAYBE CITY COUNCIL.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT WILL.

[ INAUDIBLE ] >> THEY SPEND A LOT OF MONEY.

WHILE WE HAVE PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON RACES FOR GOVERNOR AND U. S. SENATE, DOWN TICKET CONTESTS COULD PROVIDE SOME DRAMA ON TUESDAY.

A YEAR AGO, REPUBLICANS WERE HOPING TO FLIP A COUPLE OF DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL SEATS.

NOW THEY ARE HOPING TO HOLD ONTO WHAT THEY HAVE.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR STATEWIDE OFFICES LIKE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND SECRETARY OF STATE HAVE AN ADVANTAGE IN MONEY, NAME I. D. , AND OHIO'S REPUBLICAN TILT.

BUT DEMOCRATS HOPE THE WAVE IS STRONG ENOUGH TO PRODUCE SOME UPSETS THERE.

JAKES ACKERMAN, IS THERE A RACE LOOKING AT THE STATEWIDE , A DOWN BALLOT RACE OR A CONGRESSIONAL RACE YOU'RE LOOKING AT TO SAY, THIS COULD TELL US HOW TUESDAY IS GOING TO GO?

>> I THINK I THE TIME I KNOW THE RESULTS OF THIS RACE, I WILL KNOW THE RESULTS OF OTHER RACES.

THAT SAID, I'M VERY INTERESTED IN JENNIFER'S RACE FOR THE OHIO SUPREME COURT.

SHE IS THE LAST DEMOCRAT REMAINING ON THE COURT, IT IS A 6-1 COURT RIGHT NOW.

THERE ARE TWO DEMOCRATS RUNNING, BUT HER BEING THE INCUMBENT WITH A HISTORY OF WINNING STATEWIDE, SHE WOULD BE THE ONE WHO WOULD WIN IF A DEMOCRAT IS GOING TO WIN.

IF SHE LOSES, NOT ONLY WILL IT BE AN ALL REPUBLICAN COURT, WHICH IS PRETTY RARE IN OHIO HISTORY, BUT WE HAVE SOME ABORTION CASES, WE HAVE A LOT OF STUFF TO SETTLE AND IT'S ULTIMATELY GOING TO BE SETTLED.

SO, EVEN IF DEMOCRATS DO OBTAIN OFFICE POWER ELSEWHERE IN THE STATE, IT COULD BE A 7-0 IN THE COURT.

>> JESSIE, WE QUESTION THE POLLS, YOU SEE WHERE THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT A LOT OF MONEY IS BEING SPENT IN THE CONGRESSIONAL RACE BETWEEN CENTRAL OHIO MIKE CAREY AND DON LEONARD.

ALSO, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE NEGATIVE ADS AGAINST JOHN COOLIDGE RUNNING FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

SO, YOU GET THE FEELING THAT THESE RACES ARE TIGHT AND THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING.

>> YEAH, YEAH, I THINK MIKE CAREY IS IN TROUBLE IN THE CENTRAL OHIO DISTRICT , THEN IT'S BEEN A PRETTY BAD NIGHT FOR REPUBLICANS.

I THINK THERE ARE OTHER, CLOSER RACES.

IN THE TOLEDO AREA.

I AM ALSO INTERESTED IN THE MAX MILLER RACED UP IN THE CLEVELAND AREA, JUST GIVEN THE SHEER AMOUNT OF LIKE NEGATIVE --BROUGHT ON HIM BY HIMSELF, PUBLICITY IN THAT RACE.

BUT YEAH, THAT IS A REALLY INTERESTING TEST, BECAUSE THAT DISTRICT REALLY STRETCHES ALMOST TO INDIANA, I BELIEVE, AND SO, IT'S KIND OF DRAWN TO BE A FAVORED DISTRICT FOR MIKE CAREY, SO IF DON LEONARD DOES WELL THERE, THAT COULD TELL YOU A LOT ABOUT HOW THE STATE IS DOING.

>> WHAT IS THE ONE LONG SHOT RACE, MORGAN, THAT YOU THINK DEMOCRATS COULD PULL OFF?

>> WELL, TO THE CONVERSATION, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S A LONG SHOT.

I THINK THE FACT THAT DON LEONARD HAS MADE THIS RACE COMPETITIVE IS PRETTY TELLING, AND ON WHAT TYPE OF PLATFORM.

TWO RACES, HIM AND BRIAN POINDEXTER IN NORTHEAST OHIO, I AGREE, HAVE BOTH RUN VERY AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGNS.

BRIAN POINDEXTER IS SUPPORTING MEDICARE FOR ALL.

YOU HAVE TO PLAY IT SAFE, AND IF THEY BOTH PULL THIS OFF OR ONE OF THEM PULLS IT OFF, I THINK THAT STARTS TO SEND A DIFFERENT MESSAGE TO WHAT KINDS OF DEMOCRATS CAN BE COMPETITIVE IN OHIO.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] DEMOCRATIC OPPONENTS, [ INAUDIBLE ] WHAT IS ONE THAT WOULD GIVE YOU CONFIDENCE IN REPUBLICANS HANGING ONTO IT OR WHEN?

>> TWO PART ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A REPUBLICAN COURT CALLING [ INAUDIBLE ] , LAST NAME O'DONNELL, IRISH FEMALE, SHE IS GOING TO DO VERY WELL STATEWIDE.

[ INAUDIBLE ] >> THERE ARE GOOD THINGS.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] THIS YEAR, MAYBE NOT.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] VERY FAIR QUESTION, BECAUSE EVEN DEMOCRATS WANT TO SEE LAW AND ORDER, PROTECT SAFETY, AND [ INAUDIBLE ], ESPECIALLY WITH O'DONNELL AND THE STATEWIDE.

THE ONE THAT I WOULD SAY THE DEMOCRATS COULD POSSIBLY DO WELL, ANOTHER NAME GAME ISSUE, RUSSO.

ALLISON RUSSO.

SHE PLAYS SECRETARY OF STATE.

PLAYS VERY WELL IN NORTHEAST OHIO.

COUNTLESS RUSSO'S ON THE BALLOT EVERY YEAR , WINNING, WINNING, WINNING, SHE IS A FEMALE, SECRETARY OF STATE, SHE COULD DO IT.

>> COULD THAT D NEXT TO JENNIFER'S NAME DO WELL IN AN ELECTION?

>> POSSIBLY, VERY INTERESTED IN SEEING THAT.

AND I THINK ALLISON RUSSO AND [ INAUDIBLE ], I THINK THAT'S INTERESTING THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO SEE POSITIVE RESULTS ARE SOMEHOW THEIR RESULTS DIVERGE FROM THE TOP OF THE TICKET BASED ON THAT MESSAGING.

>> ANY CHANCE OF [ INAUDIBLE ].

WE HAVE HAD RECOUNTS IN CONGRESSIONAL RACES HERE IN THE PAST, IN THE 15th DISTRICT, [ INAUDIBLE ] BACK IN THE DAY.

[ INAUDIBLE ] >> WHY ARE YOU PUTTING THIS OUT IN THE UNIVERSE, MIKE?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> [ INAUDIBLE ] YOU KNOW?

DO WE EXPECT ANYTHING ON THAT?

>> I HOPE NOT.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> A 4:00 A. M. NAIL-BITER.

THERE ARE 18 DATACENTER ELECTIONS AROUND THE STATE OF OHIO, 18 DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THAT ARE GOING TO VOTE ON WHETHER TO BAN DATA CENTERS.

>> COLUMBUS IS GOING TO CHANGE HOW CITY COUNCIL IS COMPRISED, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, THEY'RE GOING TO DO THAT ON TUESDAY.

[ INAUDIBLE ].

YOUR FIRST POINT >> IF EVERYONE IS READY TO CELEBRATE THE END OF THIS SEASON WERE ALMOST THE END OF THE SEASON, NOVEMBER 3rd, SUNDAY, IS THAT --I HAVE MESSED THIS UP.

THAT IS TUESDAY.

NOVEMBER 1st, [ INAUDIBLE ] 4:00 P. M. , OPEN TO ANYBODY, EARLY VOTE.

YES.

>> MIKE?

>> NOCO AND CITIZENS IN POLITICS, MIKE.

THERE IS A REASON WHY BARACK OBAMA WAS IN CLEVELAND, [ INAUDIBLE ] NOT RESPONDING TO TRANQUIL BROWN, NOT RESPONDING FOR AMY ACTON.

FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO WIN STATEWIDE, THEY HAVE TO DOUBLE AND TRIPLE THE NUMBER OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MINORITIES AND YOUTH VOTE IN THE STATE OF OHIO, ESPECIALLY IN NORTHEAST OHIO.

>> JAKE?

>> YEAH, THE ALASKA SENATE RACE HAS BROUGHT PEOPLE WITH THE SAME NAME INTO THE NEWS, SO TO JAKE'S GOVERNMENT IN LIVERPOOL, KEEP DOING WHAT JAKE'S SACRAMENT IS DOING.

>> [ LAUGHTER ] >> JESSIE?

>> THIS SHOULD BE THE LAST WEEKEND OF FOOTBALL GAMES THAT ARE FILLED WITH POLITICAL ADS, SO I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO BOTH CARS, AND INSURANCE IN MY FUTURE.

>> THERE IS A CONGRESSMAN IN CALIFORNIA NAMED MIKE THOMPSON, HE RUNS ALL MY GOOGLE SEARCHES, I'M JUST SAYING.

[ INAUDIBLE ] PUBLIC MEDIA STANDS READY TO BRING YOU THE OHIO AND NATIONAL RESULTS ON TUESDAY ON PBS NEWS HOUR.

SPECIAL COVERAGE BEGINS AT 8:00 ON TUESDAY EVENING.

I WILL PROVIDE SPECIAL UPDATES DURING THAT PROGRAM.

THE NEWS TEAM WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED ON NPR NEWS STARTING AT 7:00, AND ALL OF THAT COVERAGE WILL BE AVAILABLE, IN FACT IT IS AVAILABLE NOW AT OUR WEBS SITE, WOSU.

ORG, SO TUNE INTO US ON WHATEVER PLATFORM YOU CHOOSE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON TUESDAY.

THAT IS COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD FOR THIS WEEK.

REMINDER, CHECK US OUT ONLINE WITH THE WOSU NEWS YOUTUBE PAGE.

THERE, YOU CAN SEE EVERY EPISODE OF THIS PROGRAM.

GO TO YOUTUBE, SEARCH WOSU NEWS, AND CLICK THAT SUBSCRIBE AND THE LITTLE BELL THING.

[ INAUDIBLE ] ALSO, WE ARE AT WOSU.

ORG ON DEMAND AND THE PBS APP.

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