>>> COVID CASES GO IN THE WRONG DIRECTION AND AMY ACTON SAYS "NO" TO A SENATE BID.

JOINING US ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK, MORGAN HOFFER, DAN WITH THE "COLUMBUS DISPATCH," AND BOB CLEGG, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST.

THE RACE BETWEEN THE VARIANTS AND THE VACCINE.

THE VARIANTS HAVE PULLED SLIGHTLY AHEAD EVEN AS MORE AND MORE OHIOANS GET THEIR FIRST AND SECOND COVID SHOT, CASES ARE ON THE RISE.

THE RATE OF NEW DAILY CASES IS UP AS IS THE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS.

AROUND THE STATE, THE NUMBER OF RED COUNTIES, THOSE WITH THE VERY HIGH RATES OF SPREAD IS CREEPING UP.

FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW HAS A STAR, WHICH MEANS IT'S JUST BELOW PURPLE, WHICH IS SEVERE EXPOSURE AND SPREAD.

>> OHIO REMAINS IN A VERY IMPORTANT RACE AGAINST THE VIRUS AND ITS VARIANTS AND VARIANTS THAT ARE NOW MORE DEADLY AND WE KNOW FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD SPREAD LIKE WILDFIRE.

BUT WE CAN WIN THE RACE, AS LONG AS WE DON'T FALTER.

AS LONG AS WE CONTINUE TO PRESS ON WITH CONSISTENT MASKING AND GETTING VACCINE.

>> JUST WHEN WE THOUGHT WE WERE OUT OF THE WOODS, A MONTH OR SO AGO, CASES WHERE IT'S HEADING SHARPLY DOWN, BUT THIS IS A LONG RACE AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S GETTING LONGER, DARRELL.

>> YEAH, I KIND OF LOST TRACK OF WHAT WAVE THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE.

FOUR OR FIVE OR THREE OR WHATEVER.

IF YOU WERE PAYING ATTENTION, WE ALL KNOW THE SPIKE JUST NORTH OF US UP IN MICHIGAN AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOTHING GOOD AND AN AIRBORNE VIRUS, YOU KNOW, PRETTY GOOD CHANCE THAT'S GOING TO WIND UP IN OHIO, AS WELL.

AND YOU KNOW VERY WELL, IT'S A RACE BETWEEN THE VACCINE AND THE VIRUS.

AND IT'S KIND OF MIXED NOW, SOME OF THESE ARE TWO WEEKS FROM THIS SECOND VACCINE, IT'S STILL PRETTY GOOD.

AND AS WE LOOK AT THE HOSPITAL STATS, IT'S THE YOUNGER CROWD NOW MORE OFTEN THAT ARE GETTING THESE NEW VARIANTS.

EVEN SOME ARE ON VENTILATORS.

THAT'S CERTAINLY A SWITCH FROM THE PEOPLE WE SAW AROUND THE HOLIDAYS.

>> BOB CLEGG, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S LEFT TO DO.

THE GOVERNOR CAN'T SHUT ANYTHING DOWN ANYMORE UNLESS IT GETS REALLY BAD.

WITH MORE AND MORE PEOPLE GETTING VACCINES, WHAT CAN POLICY MAKERS DO TO TRY TO GET THROUGH THIS OR IS IT JUST GOING TO TAKE TIME TO GET THROUGH THIS?

>> WELL, I THINK FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, POLICY MAKERS WERE VERY LIMITED IN WHAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO.

LIKE DARRELL JUST MENTIONED ABOUT OUR NEIGHBOR UP NORTH, THEY HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE IN A LOCKDOWN MODE THAN OHIO HAS BEEN.

AND WE'RE SEEING NOW THAT OBVIOUSLY, THAT HASN'T MADE THAT BIG OF A DIFFERENCE.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE YOU CAN LOCK US DOWN EVEN MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE ALREADY -- AND I THINK HERE IN OHIO, WE'RE NOT REALLY LOCKED DOWN THAT MUCH.

I THINK IT'S ALL A MATTER OF GETTING SHOTS IN THE ARMS AND GETTING PEOPLE VACCINATED AND UNTIL THEN, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT TO WEAR MASKS.

BUT AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE FINDING OUT NOW THAT MAYBE THE VIRUS REALLY CAN'T BE SPREAD THROUGH SURFACE CONTACT, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF JUST GETTING SHOTS IN PEOPLE'S ARMS AND ASKING EVERYBODY TO KEEP WEARING A MASK.

I DON'T THINK THEY CAN DO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

>> YEAH, AND MORGAN HARPER, NOW ABOUT A THIRD OF OHIOANS ARE VACCINATED, ACCORDING TO THE STATE RECORDS.

SO THAT'S GOOD.

SLOWLY, BUT SURELY, WE'RE GETTING THERE.

HERD IMMUNITY IS STILL A WAYS AWAY.

GOVERNOR DeWINE SAID THIS WEEK THAT HE IS MOVING VACCINE SUPPLY TO AREAS OF HIGHER DEMAND.

HE IS JUST GETTING VACCINE OUT TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> IT IS THE KEY, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT MORE CREATIVE OPTIONS.

BECAUSE 30% VACCINATION RATE FOR THE STATEWIDE IS NOT GOING TO GET US TO HERD IMMUNITY, LIKE YOU WERE SAYING.

AND ALSO, ANY SEMBLANCE OF QUOTE/UNQUOTE NORMAL LIFE, WE HAVE TO GET MUCH HIGHER RATES OF VACCINATION.

AND YOU KNOW, WE TALKED BEFORE ABOUT SOME FOLKS WHO ARE STILL SUSCEPTIBLE TO MISINFORMATION ABOUT THE VACCINE.

I THINK WE NEED TO GET CREATIVE WITH INCENTIVES.

HOW CAN WE INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO PUT A VACCINATION OVER ANY OTHER RELUCTANCE THEY MIGHT BE HAVING SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY GET THE STATE'S SORT OF HEALTH AND ECONOMY BACK ON TRACK.

UNTIL THEN, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP SPINNING OUR WHEELS.

>> SPEAKING OF CREATIVE WAYS TO TRY TO DISPEL FALSE RUMORS ABOUT THE VACCINE, GOVERNOR DeWINE'S OFFICE HAD A GRAPHIC THIS WEEK IN WHICH HE WAS TELLING PEOPLE THAT A COMMON RUMOR IS NOT TRUE.

BASICALLY, VACCINES DO NOT CONTAIN MICROCHIPS OR TRACKING DEVICES.

THIS IS FROM THE STATE OF OHIO.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN AN OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT A CONSPIRACY THEORY?

>> NO.

BIT MUST BE TRUE.

WOW.

YOU KNOW, WE THOUGHT MAYBE WE WERE DONE WITH THIS AFTER THE PRESSURE ELECTION, BUT, YEAH, I GUESS NOT.

AND I MEAN, WHY -- I MEAN, PART OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THIS WHOLE ANTI-MASK, ANTI-VACCINATION BIAS IN SOME OF OUR COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW, SOME OF OUR FAMILIES, SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

YOU KNOW, AS MORGAN WAS SAYING, WE'VE GOT TO FIND WAYS TO OVERCOME THIS.

YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THE PRESIDENT TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GOING ON, PAST 100 MILLION VACCINES, GOING TO 200 MILLIONS.

AND OF COURSE, AT THE CURRENT RATE, IT SEEM -- JUST PURE MATH, IT SEEMS EASY.

KEEP UP THE CURRENT RATE.

BUT YOU'RE GOING TO START HITTING THE HARDER-TO-REACH POPULATION.

AT THE SAME TIME, I KNOW FOLKS IN, YOU KNOW, CHURCHES I GO TO, A CHURCH I GO TO AND MY WIFE WORKS WITH, SOME OLDER FOLKS, YOU KNOW, THAT VERY FIRST ROUND, FOR WHATEVER REASON, HAVE JUST NOT FOUND A WAY TO GET IN AND GET THAT NEEDLE IN THE ARM.

TO GET THAT VACCINE THEY SORELY NEED.

>> TALK ABOUT INCENTIVES.

BOB CLEGG, THE STATE FAIR ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO ALLOW FAIRGOERS TO GO TO THE STATE FAIR.

THEY'LL STILL HAVE THE CONTEST, BUT NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO RIDE RIDES OR HAVE THE ELEPHANT EARS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND THE CORN DOGS AND WHATEVER ELSE THEY WANT TO PUT IN AND FRY IT.

HOW ABOUT THAT AS AN INCENTIVE?

DO YOU WANT TO GO TO THE STATE FAIR, GET A SHOT.

YOU KNOW?

>> SURE, SURE.

THAT'S NOT A BAD IDEA.

BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD.

SO THEY DIDN'T.

BUT, I AGREE WITH THE OHIO EXPO PEOPLE IN THAT TO PUT ON THE FAIR AND HAVE IT A FULL-BLOWN FAIR, BUT REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO ENTER, IT'S JUST NOT ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE.

SO I DON'T BLAME THEM AT ALL, BY JUST SAYING, WE CAN'T LET ANYBODY IN, BECAUSE THAT WAY THEY CAN CUT DOWN ON A LOT OF THE EXPENSES.

AND HAVE THE, YOU KNOW, THE YOUNG, YOU KNOW, FUTURE FARMERS COME IN WITH THEIR ANIMALS AND THEY CAN DO ALL OF THAT.

AND -- BUT, YEAH, THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AN INCENTIVE TO GET PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED AND MAYBE THAT'S THE KIND OF THINKING OUT OF THE BOX THAT THEY SHOULD START DOING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AFTER MONTHS OF SPECULATION AND SOME PRETTY AGGRESSIVE RECRUITMENT, AMY ACTON SAYS ELECTORAL POLITICS ARE NOT FOR HER, AT LEAST NOT FOR NOW.

THE FORMER STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR THIS WEEK DECIDED NOT TO RUN FOR OUTGOING SENATOR ROB PORTMAN'S SEAT, WHILE NOT GIVING A SPECIFIC REASON WHY SHE'S NOT RUNNING, HER STATEMENT SAID THERE IS A GENUINE LONGING FOR A FRESH APPROACH TO LEADERSHIP THAT IS HONEST, COLLABORAIVE AND EMPOWERING AND SHE URGED OHIO ANNS NOT TO ACCEPT ANYTHING LESS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT SHE IS NOT GOING TO BE THE VEHICLE FOR THAT.

THE POLLS WE SAW, THE ONES THAT WERE LEAKED OUT, I GUESS, SHOWED THAT AMY ACTON WAS THE LEADING DEMOCRAT BECAUSE OF HER NAME IDEA.

YOU SURPRISED SHE DECIDE NOT GIVE IT A SHOT?

>> WELL, IT'S A LITTLE SURPRISING.

BUT I THINK THERE'S STILL SOME CLEAR TAKEAWAYS FOR US AS A PARTY.

I THINK THAT POLLS WERE STRONG IN SUPPORTING HER, NOT JUST BECAUSE OF NAME I.D., BUT ALSO BECAUSE SHE REPRESENTED A DIFFERENT KIND OF POLITICS.

THE SAME NUMBERS WE HAD FROM THE NOVEMBER ELECTION HOLD TRUE.

THAT THE TRADITIONAL BRAND OF POLITICS IS NOT GETTING IT DONE STATEWIDE AND WE HAVE TO EMBRACE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CANDIDATES AND STRATEGIES.

SO AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO OTHER CANDIDATES, I THINK THAT NEEDS TO CONTINUE THE STANDARD BY WHICH WE EVALUATE THE VIABILITY, ELECTABILITY, AND HOW MUCH SUPPORT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM.

>> IT SEEMED LIKE PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO DRAG AMY ACTON INTO THE RACE.

THE FORMER COLUMNIST WITH THE CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER, PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING AUTHOR, SHE WAS SUDDENLY KIND OF ENCOURAGING HER ON TWITTER TO RUN.

YOU ASSUME HER HUSBAND WAS DOING THE SAME, QUIETLY, UNLESS SHE'S GOING ROGUE.

ALSO, A GROUP OF SCIENTISTS WAS GOING TO PLEDGE $5 MILLION FOR HER BID TO HELP HER WITH FUND-RAISING.

BUT IN THE END, SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT THIS ROUGH AND TUMBLE RACE.

WE CAN GUESS, ANYWAY.

>> I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I HAVEN'T SPOKE TO DR. ACTON PERSONALLY, BUT I GUESS WE SAW HER ON TV, YOU KNOW.

SHE REALLY DIDN'T SEEM CUT OUT FOR A POLITICAL RACE, A KNOCKDOWN, DRAG OUT RACE.

AND ON ONE HAND, THAT'S SAD, IF WE'RE REPORTING OTHERWISE QUALIFIED CANDIDATES OF WITH SOMEONE GETTING IN THE RACE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY, YOU KNOW.

CONGRESSMAN TIM RYAN HAS BEEN THE MOST VIABLE ALTERNATIVE HERE WITH SYKES CONSIDER THAT, WITH FORMER STATE TREASURER.

YOU KNOW, OVER A YEAR AWAY FROM THE PRIMARY, WE COULD HAVE AN OPEN SCRAMBLE.

NOTHING LIKE THE REPUBLICANS, BUT CERTAINLY NO FRONT-RUNNER BY ANY STRETCH.

>> BOB CLEGG, A REPUBLICANS AMY ACTON IS NOT GOING TO RUN OR ARE THEY GLAD BECAUSE SHE WAS KIND OF A WILD CARD AND SHE WAS A NONTRADITIONAL POLITICIAN, HIGH NAME I.D., HIGH APPROVAL RATING, THAT SHE MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE MOST FORMIDABLE CANDIDATE TO RUN AGAINST A REPUBLICAN IN THE GENERAL ELECTION?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE HAPPY OR NECESSARILY DISAPPOINTED THAT SHE'S NOT RUNNING, BUT LIKE MORGAN SAID, SHE WAS A NONTRADITIONAL CANDIDATE.

I THINK IT'S ALWAYS A LITTLE TOUGHER TO RUN A CAMPAIGN AGAINST A NON-TRADITIONAL CANDIDATE THAN IT IS YOUR TYPICAL, LIKE, TIM RYAN, CONGRESSMAN, STATE SENATOR, WHERE HE HAS A RECORD AND YOU CAN TALK ABOUT IT AND, YOU KNOW.

A NONTRADITIONAL CANDIDATE LIKE AMY ACTON WOULD HAVE BEEN, I THINK, A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT.

HOWEVER, AND I SAID THIS IN THE BEGINNING WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT HER CANDIDACY, I WONDERED IF HER CANDIDACY WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A KIND OF A ONE-ISSUE CAMPAIGN FOR HER AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN OBVIOUSLY, AND WHO KNOWS OVER A YEAR FROM NOW WHEN THE PRIMARY WOULD BE OR A YEAR AND A HALF FROM NOW, WHEN THE GENERAL WOULD BE, WHAT THE WHOLE COVID SITUATION WOULD BE.

I PERSONALLY WASN'T VERY SURPRISED SHE WASN'T RUNNING, BECAUSE I THINK IT TAKES A LOT TO RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE.

I THINK, ESPECIALLY, NOW, NOWADAYS, WITH THE TYPE OF POLITICS THAT'S OUT THERE AND THE MEANNESS, THE BITTERNESS THAT SOMETIMES OR A LOT OF TIMES IS INVOLVED IN IT.

I THINK IT'S TOUGH ON NOT ONLY THE CANDIDATES, BUT ON THEIR FAMILIES, TO DO A STATEWIDE CAMPAIGN LIKE THAT.

>> MORGAN, DARREL RAN DOWN THE LIST OF FOLKS THAT ARE STILL CONSIDERING RUNNING.

DO ANY OF THOSE FOLKS EXCITE DEMOCRATS?

ESPECIALLY THE PROGRESSIVE WING OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

>> YOU HAVE TO SEE WHO FORMALLY ANNOUNCES.

THERE'S A LOT OF SPECULATION AT THIS POINT.

BUT HEARING TIM RYAN SAY THINGS LIKE, THIS MAKES SENSE BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SECURE AS MUCH SUPPORT IN MY STATE DISTRICT, I'LL TRY STATEWIDE, NOT ENCOURAGING.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE MESSAGE THAT VOTERS ARE WAITING TO HEAR.

SO WE NEED TO GET REAL.

LIKE I SAID, WE NEED A DIFFERENT TYPE OF POLITICS HERE.

WE'VE GOT FAUX POPULISM ON THE RIGHT, THAT IS ON THE MOVE.

I THINK WE'RE SEEING SIGNS ABOUT IT, SOME OF THE CANDIDATES THAT HAVE ANNOUNCED, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE CORPORATE PAC MONEY.

THAT'S A LITTLE DISINGENUOUS, THEY'RE ALREADY RICH.

BUT THE MESSAGE IS OUT THERE.

ARE WE READY TO TAKE THAT AND BEAT THAT WITH TRUE POPULISM, TRUE ECONOMIC PRIORITIES FOR PEOPLE IN THE STATE.

>> DARREL, HE COMES FROM THE YOUNGSTOWN AREA AND IS SEEN ADDS A SHERROD BROWN TYPE REPUBLICAN, SOMEONE WHO CAN GET THE WORKING CLASS VOTE.

IS HE THE FRONT-RUNNER AT THIS POINT?

WOULD YOU GETSZ?

HE DID RAISE $1.23 MILLION IN THE FIRST MONTH OF THIS YEAR, MORE THAN HE'S EVER RAISED BEFORE AS A CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE.

>> AT THE RISK OF BEING OVERCONVENTIONAL, I GUESS I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT BECAUSE, YEAH, HE DOES HAVE THE BANKROLL.

HE'S BEEN IN ELECTED OFFICE, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT OF PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS THERE.

HE DOES -- I MEAN, THAT'S A REAL GOOD QUESTION, MIKE ABOUT SHERROD BROWN, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HIS OWN DISTRICT HAS SHRUNK THERE.

IT'S THAT WORKING PERSON POPULISM IS GOING TO WORK, I THINK IT WOULD WORK IN THE VALLEY.

IT IS A STUNNER OF A VALLEY, RUNNING FOR OFFICE, A FOOTBALL STAR AND ALL OF THAT.

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT THERE'S MORE.

THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF ARGUMENT YOU CAN MAKE AGAINST ANY PROSPECTIVE DEMOCRAT.

AND THAT'S PART OF PARTY'S PROBLEM.

YOU TALK ABOUT NO ONE HAS NECESSARILY COME UP THROUGH THE MINOR LEAGUES.

YOU KNOW, WORKING IS A LOGICAL ALTERNATIVE HERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THE REPUBLICAN RACE FOR SENATE HAS ANOTHER CANDIDATE.

CLEVELAND BUSINESSMAN AND LONGTIME REPUBLICAN DONOR, BERNIE MORENO, HE JOINS JOSH MANDELL AND FORMER STATE GOP CHAIR JANE TIMKIN IN THE OFFICIAL RACE FOR SENATE.

OTHER REPUBLICANS MAY JOIN.

STEVE STIVERS HAS RAISED $1.2 MILLION SINCE JANUARY AND IS SAID TO BE CONSIDERING A RUN, AS IS CONGRESSMAN MIKE TURNER OF DAYTON AND A FEW OTHERS.

BOB, MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS, WHO IS JOSH MANDELL GOING TO RUN AGAINST NOW THAT AMY ACTON SAYS SHE'S NOT GOING TO RUN?

>> WELL, SHE'S GOT TO WORRY ABOUT THAT PRIMARY FIRST.

BUT I THINK WHAT IS INTERESTING IN OHIO IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALMOST LIKE OHIO HAS BECOME ALABAMA.

I DO A LOT OF RACES DOWN IN ALABAMA.

AND IN THESE REALLY RED STATES, YOU GET ALL THE ACTION ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE IN THE PRIMARIES AND I SEE THAT HAPPENING NOW IN OHIO, WHERE ALL THE ACTION NOW IS ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, AND NOT THE DEMOCRAT SIDE.

EVERYBODY SEEMS TO WANT TO RUN AS A REPUBLICAN IN OHIO THESE DAYS.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A FREE-FOR-ALL AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT CANDIDATES HERE THAT ARE GOING TO BE RUNNING FOR THIS SEAT.

AND FOR SOMEONE LIKE JOSH MANDELL, IT'S PROBABLY, THE MORE THE MERRIER FOR HIM.

HE'S THE ONE PERSON THAT'S GOT PROBABLY THE BEST NAME I.D.

OF EVERYBODY RUNNING ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

SO THE MORE THAT FIELD CAN BE DIVIDED, THE BETTER OFF HE'S GOING TO BE.

IF HE WOULD HAVE TO DO A HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH JANE TIMKIN, THAT WOULD BE, I THINK, A LOT MORE PROBLEMATIC THAN A FIELD WITH JANE AND THREE OR FOUR OTHER GUYS.

>> HE COULD BE ONLY REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE THAT'S ACTUALLY WON STATEWIDE IN THIS RACE.

A BUSINESSMAN, WEALTHY, REPUBLICAN DONOR.

HE'S NOT WELL KNOWN AROUND MOST OF THE STATE.

HE MIGHT BE BETTER WELL KNOWN UP IN THE CLEVELAND AREA, BECAUSE OF HIS CAR DEALERSHIPS.

LET ME KNOW ABOUT HIM AND DOES HE HAVE A SHOT?

>> WELL, I THINK -- EVERYONE HAS A SHOT, BUT IT CERTAINLY SEEMS LIKE HE'S GOT MONEY, AT LEAST THAT GETS YOU AHEAD.

IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO THEM LIKE A USED CAR SALESMAN AND MAKE THE SALE.

HE'S INVOLVED IN TECHNOLOGY TO PORTRAY HIMSELF AS A CANDIDATE OF THE FUTURE BUT THIS RACE, ESPECIALLY THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, BOB MENTIONS ALABAMA, IS THIS ALL JUST A PANDER TO DONALD TRUMP PRIMARY?

IT'S WHO CAN BE TRUMPIEST?

WHO CAN JUST TRY TO GET THE BACKING, I GUESS, OF TRUMP, WILL BE THE GOLD STAR, OF COURSE.

BUT EVEN JUST TO GET THAT TRUMP ELECTORATE BY EIGHT POINTS.

>> MORGAN HARPER, IT'S A LONG WAYS OFF.

WE'RE STILL A WAY AWAY FROM THE PRIMARY, A YEAR AND A HALF AWAY FROM THE GENERAL ELECTION IN 2022.

IT'S A LONG WAY OFF.

A LOT OF THINGS LP HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.

BUT WILL DEMOCRATS LIKE THE MOST TRUMPIEST CANDIDATE TO RUN AGAINST THEIR CANDIDATE WHEN THAT COMES IN NOVEMBER OF '22?

>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

I MEAN, I WOULD SAY THAT WE ALL ACTUALLY ARE AT AN EXTREME DISADVANTAGE AND AT RISK OF A LOT OF HARM BY HAVING THESE FOLKS TO CONTINUE TO WANT TO EXTEND THE MESSAGING FROM TRUMP.

AND WE'RE SEEING THAT EARLY ON IN THE LAUNCH VIDEO, ACCUSING SOME OF THESE DEMOCRATIC OFFICE HOLDERS OF BEING SOCIALISTS, CLAIMING THAT HE OVERCAME FIDEL CASTRO AND HIS AMERICAN DREAM STORY.

THIS IS MESSAGING THAT'S DANGEROUS, IT'S COMPLETELY FALSE.

IT'S NOT DOING ANYTHING TO TAKE OUR POLITICS TO A BETTER LEVEL THAT PUTS PEOPLE FIRST.

AND SO I WOULD HOPE THAT THAT TYPE OF MESSAGE WOULD BE EASY TO DEFEAT.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO TAKE DEMOCRATS ALSO LEARNING OUR LESSONS AND PUTTING IN CANDIDATES THAT ARE READY TO FIGHT, THAT HAVE A PERSISTENT MESSAGE, AND ARE ON THE GROUND, SENDING THAT MESSAGE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

>> BOB CLEGG, HOW MUCH IS REDISTRICTING GOING TO PLAY IN THIS SENATE RACE?

LOOK AT A GUY LIKE STEVE STEYER, HE'S RAISED $1.2 MILLION, AND HIS DISTRICT COULD GET CHANGED SUBSTANTIALLY AFTER THE CENSUS IS IN AND WE DRAW THE NEW MAPS.

I DON'T THINK THE MAPS HAVE GOT TO GET ANY LESS COMPETITIVE THAN THEY ARE NOW.

YOU LOOK AT STEVE STIVERS, AND HE MIGHT SAY, MY DISTRICT IS NOT QUITE AS CHANCE.

NOT MY CHANCE, I SHOULD RUN STATEWIDE AND GIVE IT A SHOT.

>> YEAH, IT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE DISTRICTS, AND THAT'S WHY A LOT OF THESE DECISIONS THAT THESE POTENTIAL CANDIDATES ARE MAKING, I THINK, IS REALLY KIND OF EARLY.

BECAUSE I REALLY THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT -- AND I'M BASICALLY TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE TIM RYAN OR STEVE STIVERS OR EVEN DANNY O'CONNOR, WHO JUST ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT HE'S GOING TO RUN NOT FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE, BUT FOR CONGRESS.

WELL, WHAT DISTRICT ARE YOU GOING TO BE RUNNING IN?

THEY'RE GOING TO CHANGE.

FOR REPUBLICANS, I THINK THE BIG CHANGE WILL BE INSTEAD OF WINNING YOUR DISTRICT BY 65 TO 70%, YOU'LL PROBABLY WIN IT BY 60 TO 65%, YOU KNOW?

I DON'T THINK THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE IT'S A 50/50 DISTRICT, WHERE THEY WERE WINNING HANDEDLY, ALMOST 2-1, AND NOW IT'S 50/50.

FOR SOMEONE LIKE DANIEL O'CONNOR, WHO LIVES IN CLINTONVILLE AND COLUMBUS, I WOULD GUESS HE'S GOING TO END UP ENJOYING SADIE'S DISTRICT AND I WOULDN'T SUGGEST HE RUNS AGAINST, BUT YOU CAN'T MAKE DECISIONS NOW ON THESE CONGRESSIONAL RACES UNTIL WE SEE HOW THIS IS GOING TO SHAKE OUT.

AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, OBVIOUSLY, SINCE WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET CENSUS DATA UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL OCTOBER AT THE EARLIEST OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE A LITTLE TOO PREMATURE HERE ON THEIR DECISION MAKING, I THINK.

>> LET'S GET TO OUR LAST TOPIC -- GO AHEAD, DARREL.

>> I'M SORRY.

>> YEAH, IF YOU LOOK AT THE FUND-RAISING APPEALS FROM STEVE STIVERS AND THEY'RE VERY AMBIGUOUS.

THEY COULD BE USED FOR MONEY FOR RE-ELECTION OR STATEWIDE RACE.

LET'S GO HOME, TEAM, SEND ME SOME BUCKS.

AND I THINK ESPECIALLY SOME OF THAT CONGRESSMAN STIVERS, YOU'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW MUCH WITH THE STATE RIDE RACE BEING A POSSIBILITY, YOU HAVE TO SEE HOW MUCH MONEY THAT'S GOING TO ATTRACT.

AND IN SOME WAYS, AN INCUMBENT MEMBER OF CONGRESS HAS GOT A HUGE DECISION.

AND AGAIN WITH REDISTRICTING LINES, CHALLENGERS ARE HAVING AN EVEN TOUGHER TIME.

BUT, YES, THIS FALL, MY GOODNESS, THERE'S GOING TO BE SO MUCH MANEUVERING AND THEN WITH LITIGATION OVER THE DISTRICTS AND -- YEAH, IT'S JUST A WARM-UP RIGHT NOW, FOLKS.

>> YEAH, THEY'RE NOT MAKING TRIP TO FLORIDA TO GET THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT AND THAT WILL BE KEY.

BOB CLEGG, IS THAT THE -- IF DONALD TRUMP WOULD HAVE COME OUT TOMORROW AND SAY, I ENDORSE THIS CANDIDATE, WOULD THE RACE BE OVER ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OR NO?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW WHAT, I THINK IF THE PRESIDENT WOULD COME OUT AND ENDORSE, IN MY OPINION, EITHER JOSH MANDELL OR JANE TIMKIN, I THINK THE RACE WOULD COME TOGETHER A LOT MORE THAN IF YOU WOULD ONE OF THE MORE NOT AS WELL-KNOWN CANDIDATES.

BUT, I MEAN, WE TALK ABOUT ALL OF THESE CANDIDATES TRYING TO MIMIC PRESIDENT TRUMP AND WE'VE GOT TO REMEMBER, HE CARRIED THE STATE HANDEDLY AGAINST BOTH HILLARY CLINTON AND JOE BIDEN.

SO THAT'S TELLING YOU THAT THE GENERAL ELECTION ELECTORATE IN A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR, WHICH IS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN A GUBERNATORIAL YEAR, BECAUSE IT'S A LOT MORE DEMOCRAT, IS STILL A BIG TRUMP ELECTORATE.

SO I DON'T FAULT ANY OF THESE CANDIDATES ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, TRYING TO SOUND TRUMPY.

>> AND OF COURSE, DONALD TRUMP WON'T BE ON THE BALLOT IN 2022, WHICH WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

I'M SURE HE DROVE A LOT OF FOLKS OUT TO VOTE IN 2016 AND 2020.

IT'S TIME NOW FOR OUR "OFF THE RECORD," FINAL PARTING SHOTS.

MORGAN HARPER, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> WELL, I WANTED TO JUST CALL ATTENTION TO, WE HAD A PAINT MANUFACTURING EXPLOSION HERE IN COLUMBUS LATE '90s, AND GEORGIA PACIFIC.

AND SO, JUST MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE AWARE IT'S HAPPENING, WHEN WE HAD THESE VIOLATIONS AND INVESTIGATING AND CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND HOPE THAT FOLKS IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS ARE ALSO TAKEN CARE OF AND COMPENSATED IN THAT WAY.

>> BOB CLEGG, YOUR FINAL THOUGHT?

>> IT WAS ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT FRANKLINTON ON THE WEST SIDE OF COLUMBUS THAT HAS LOWEST LIFE EXPECTANCY IN THE STATE OF OHIO.

AND I THINK THIS SHOWS HOW WE'VE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB WITH HEALTH CARE DELIVERY IN THESE LOWER INCOME AREAS AND IT HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF TWO GREAT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE FIGHTING TO LOWER THE INFANT MORTALITY RATE IN THESE LOW-INCOME AREAS.

>> INDEED.

AND DARREL, YOUR FINAL THOUGHT?

>> THAT'S A GREAT SEGUE WHERE I'VE GOT TO MENTION THE MEDICAID, IT'S $20 BILLION WITH A "B" OF YOUR DOLLARS GOING TO MANAGED CARE PROGRAMS.

THEY AWARDED CONTRACTS TODAY TO SEVERAL COMPANIES FOR A TOTALLY REVAMPED APPROACH.

OF COURSE, MEDICAID SERVES THE DISABLED AND THE POOREST OHIOANS.

SO IT'S A PRETTY BIG DEAL.

>> BOB CLEGG KIND OF STOLE MY THUNDER A BIT WITH HIS COMMENT.

BUT MY PREDICTION IS THAT WHEN THE MAPS ARE DRAWN FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS IN OHIO THAT DANNY O'CONNOR WILL BE IN BEATTY'S DISTRICT, JUST LIKE THEY DID TO MARE JO WAY BACK TEN YEARS AGO, THEY CARVED OUT HER HOUSE AND PUT HER IN PAT TEABURRY'S DISTRICT.

IT WAS THE CHANGEST MAP, BUT I THINK THAT MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN REGARDLESS OF THE NEW SYSTEM.

THAT IS "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" FOR THIS WEEK.

CHECK US OUT ONLINE.

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FOR OUR CREW, I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.