>>> DEMOCRATS ARE OFF AND RUNNING AND AMY ACTON EYES 2026 ♪♪ >>> WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD," THE PEP RALLY PHASE OF THE 2024 CAMPAIGN IS OVER.

AND FOR DEMOCRATS HERE IN OHIO AND AROUND THE COUNTRY THE REAL WORK BEGINS.

VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS THIS WEEK ACCEPTED HER PARTY'S NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT AND PROMISED A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT PATH FROM JOE BIDEN.

AND A VERY DIFFERENT PATH FROM FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

UNTIL VOTING RESULTS CHANGE, OHIO DEMOCRATS LIKELY WILL PLAY ONLY A SUPPORTING ROLE IN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTE.

DONALD TRUMP AND JD VANCE REMAIN SOLID FAVORITES HERE.

BUT SHERROD BROWN, SENATOR BROWN HOPES ENTHUSIASM FOR HARRIS HELPS HIM WIN REELECTION, EVEN THOUGH BROWN DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE CONVENTION PEPPERY.

JULIE CARR SMYTH, WILL THAT TRANSLATE TO ANY DIFFERENT RESULTS HERE IN OHIO FOR KAMALA HARRIS IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE, IN THE SENATE RACE AS WELL?

>> WELL, I MEAN, I AM HEARING A LITTLE BIT OF RUMBLING, REALLY, ACROSS THE BOARD AS PARTICULARLY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THOSE VOTERS WHO BEGRUDGINGLY WERE SUPPORTING JOE BIDEN, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT MAYBE THEY'RE A BIT MORE EXCITED ABOUT IT, THOSE WHO WERE REALLY NOT GOING TO PARTICIPATE, YOUNG PEOPLE FOR EXAMPLE, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WE SEE SOME SORT OF A BOUNCE FROM THAT.

IN THIS STATE IT'S VERY UNLIKELY THAT THAT WOULD ACTUALLY CHANGE THE RESULT FROM A REPUBLICAN WIN, THOUGH.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, GENE, TRUMP HAS WON THE STATE BY EIGHT POINTS I THINK TWICE NOW, THIS IS HIS THIRD TIME.

DOES THE MARGIN SHRINK AT ALL, DOES IT GROW?

>> THE ACTUAL -- THE STATE OF OHIO IS RED BY ABOUT 3.7%, THAT'S WHAT MIKE BEAT RICH CORDRAY BY.

I'M ONE OF THOSE WHO'S GOING -- THE REPUBLICANS ARE BEING, I ALWAYS SAY THEY'RE BEING OVERCONFIDENT AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE BEING INEPT, EVERY SHOW, GUESS WHAT?

THEY'RE BEING OVERCONFIDENT, THEY'RE THINKING IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE BAG.

I THINK SHERROD IS A FORMIDABLE CANDIDATE.

AS I'VE SAID BEFORE MERINO HAS AN UNFAMILIAR NAME.

HISTORICALLY IN OHIO YOU HAVE TO HAVE RUN TWICE IN OHIO IF YOU HAVE AN UNFAMILIAR NAME.

>> JD VANCE BEING THE EXCEPTION, BUT HE WAS FAMILIAR BECAUSE OF HIS BOOK, THOUGH.

>> THAT WAS -- YEAH, YEAH, BECAUSE HE WAS A CELEBRITY, EXACTLY.

>> JO, HOW DID YOU READ THE CONVENTION, POLISHED, VERY SCRIPTED, BUT IT WAS DIFFERENT THAN HAD JOE BIDEN BEEN NOMINATED.

>> DIFFERENT THAN PREVIOUS DEMOCRATIC CONVENTIONS I HAVE SEEN.

THE FIRST THING THAT CAME TO MIND, ESPECIALLY ON THE SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH DAYS, THE FIRST DAY WAS CREEKY RUNNING LATE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, BUT I SAID, WELL, IT MAKES SENSE, ALL THOSE HOLLYWOOD LIBERALS THAT KNOW HOW TO PUT ON A SHOW, IT MAKES SENSE THAT MAYBE THEY REACHED OUT AND THEY GOT IT DONE.

SO, AS FAR AS EXCITEMENT AND ENTERTAINMENT, I FOUND IT TO BE SUPREMELY ENTERTAINING.

I DIDN'T WANT TO TURN IT OFF.

NOW, MIND YOU, MY AGE, I DID FALL ASLEEP ONCE OR TWICE.

>> I NOTICED ON THE FOURTH NIGHT, KAMALA HARRIS, THEY WERE REALLY MOVING THOSE PEOPLE ALONG TO GET HER ON BEFORE 11:00 SO SHE COULD AT LEAST FINISH HER SPEECH BEFORE THE TIME THE EVENING NEWS CAME ON.

>> DIDN'T LOSE TOO MANY PEOPLE, JO.

>> AND EVERYONE WAS STAYING AWAKE TO SEE WHO THE BIG GUEST WAS, THE MYSTERY GUEST, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE STILL KNOW WHO THAT WAS, DO WE?

>> NO.

SOME SAID BEYONCE.

>> THERE WAS TALK ABOUT BEYONCE AND TAYLOR SWIFT AND ALL THIS OTHER AND EVERYONE STAYED AWAKE AND WATCHED IT, AND WONDERING WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

>> GENE, HOW DOES KAMALA HARRIS DO AMONG WHAT YOU CALL THE NPR REPUBLICANS, THE EDUCATED CLASS?

>> OH, GOSH.

THAT USED TO BE OUR BASE.

65% OF THEM WOULD VOTE FOR US, NOW IT'S ABOUT 35%.

SHE'S GOING TO HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF APPEAL.

TRUMP NEEDS TO LAY OFF THE PERSONAL ATTACKS.

I'VE RUN AGAINST A WOMAN TWICE, AND AS I ONCE SAID TO THE THEN SPEAKER, YOU'RE REALLY HARD TO RUN AGAINST AS A GENDER.

I KNOW THAT.

THAT'S WHY I LIKE WOMEN CANDIDATES.

AND IT'S NOT -- NAME CALLING WORKS IN A PARTISAN PRIMARY STRUCTURE BECAUSE IT'S A SMALL POPULATION, YOU'RE ONLY APPEALING TO YOUR BASE.

IT DOES NOT TRANSLATE WELL IN THE GENERAL POPULATION WHERE YOU HAVE INDEPENDENTS AND PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE THE BIG PARTY PERSON PAYING ATTENTION TO IT.

IT SOUNDS MEAN AND PETTY.

HE SHOULD LAY OFF OF THIS AND TALK ABOUT POLICY.

>> AND IT'S SORT OF -- IT BEGINS TO FEEL LIKE THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT TO GET INTO THE POLICY AREAS WHERE THEY DIFFER, AND REALLY TRY TO RALLY THE BASE AROUND THAT.

>> WELL, WE DIDN'T HEAR A LOT OF SPECIFICS IN THIS CONVENTION, JOE, WE HEARD A FEW THINGS, LIKE HELP WITH DOWNPAYMENTS ON FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS, CHILD TAX CREDIT.

BUT, HER SPEECH ON THURSDAY NIGHT HAD NO REAL SPECIFICS IN IT.

>> SO, RHETORICAL QUESTION.

>> YES.

>> WHAT IS TRUMP OFFERING?

BECAUSE, HIS ONLY POLICY STATEMENT IS ONLY I CAN DO IT, AND THAT WAS THE CASE IN '16.

THAT WAS THE CASE IN '20, WHICH DIDN'T WORK.

AND THEN I'M SEEING THE SAME THING REPEATED.

ACTUALLY, I'M SURPRISED THAT SHE HAS TALKED ABOUT HIM PRIOR TO THE CONVENTION, A FEW DAYS BEFORE, SPECIFICS.

THE $25,000 FOR HOME BUYERS, ALL OF THAT STUFF THAT NORMALLY YOU DON'T SEE BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO GET TOO SPECIFIC.

>> THERE WAS SOME NEWS IN THE SENATE RACE THIS WEEK, JOE, MERINO CAME OUT HE WAS GOING TO SPEND, HE'S COMMITTED $25 MILLION TO AN AD BLITZ, TV, RADIO, STREAMING, DIRECT MAIL.

IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THAT'S A HUGE SURPRISE GIVEN THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND 150 TO $200 MILLION ON THIS CAMPAIGN TOTAL.

>> WELL, AND, YOU KNOW, THE DARK MONEY IS WHERE IT'S COMING IN.

>> YES.

>> SO, I THINK, YOU KNOW, I PAY A LOT OF ATTENTION, AS EVERYONE DOES, TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS.

BUT I ALWAYS REMIND MYSELF THAT, HEY, THIS DOES NOT TELL THE STORY, BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF DARK MONEY AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WITH BERNIE MERINO NOT BEING AS WELL DEFINED TO THE OHIO PUBLIC AS SHERROD BROWN IS, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE EVEN MAYBE MORE DARK MONEY COMING IN FOR HIM.

>> IT IS A BIO AD OUT NOW, FUNDED BY ONE OF THESE GROUPS, I THINK IT'S DEFENDING AMERICA OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> YOU COULD CALL IT A BIO AD, BUT IT SORT OF DOUBLES DOWN ON THE, YOU KNOW, PULLING YOURSELF UP BY YOUR BOOT STRAPS, AMERICAN DREAM.

VERY VAGUELY SO AS NOT TO BE FACT CHECKED AS TOTALLY INACCURATE, BUT THE IMPLICATION IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN SOME OF THE REPORTING THAT HAS BEEN AROUND, YOU KNOW, HIS ROOTS.

>> SHERROD BROWN SPENT THE WEEK NOT IN CHICAGO, IN PIKETON, CHILLICOTHE.

A BETTER USE OF HIS TIME?

>> HE WAS CAMPAIGNING THE OTHER OHIO AND THE REASON DEMOCRATS LOSE IN THIS STATE OVERWHELMINGLY, BAFFLINGLY GOES TO THE ISSUE OF COMPETENCE, IN MY OPINION FOR THEM, THEY DO NOT SPEND ENOUGH TIME IN THE RURAL REGIONS, THEY CAN'T WIN MY HOME COUNTY.

IF THEY CAN -- THEY CAN GET THE 35 TO 40%, THEY CAN TAKE THE STATE.

BUT, IF THEY ABANDON IT AND THEY DON'T SO TO SPEAK TO THE ISSUES INVOLVED OUT IN RURAL OHIO.

I TOLD SOMEBODY OVER LUNCH TODAY.

MY -- MY INTERNET IS 4.6 MEGA BYTES PER SECOND, THAT'S ALL I GET.

>> THAT'S SLOW.

>> AND WHEN YOU TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES WHO LIVE OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOME COUNTY, AND THEY GO, OH, I HAVE 50.

I'M GOING TO HAVE 500 NEXT YEAR.

YOU'VE JUST GOTTA GO, I LIVE IN A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY AND I'M GETTING IRATE ABOUT IT.

AND WHEN SOMEONE LIKE TRUMP COMES ALONG AND SAYS I HEAR YOU, I WILL FIX THIS.

>> YEAH.

LET'S GET TO ONE OF THOSE TOPICS, AND MOST CYCLES, THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IS THE ECONOMY, POLLS SHOW THAT IS THE CASE THIS YEAR.

BUT THE ECONOMIC PICTURE IS NOT AS CLEAR AS IT WOULD BE, SAY, DURING A BOOM OR A TRUE RECESSION, INFLATION HAS COOLED BUT REMAINS HIGHER THAN IT WAS, FOOD PRICES ARE UP MORE THAN 20% DURING BIDEN'S PRESIDENCY.

RENTS, HOME PRICES ARE UP.

INTEREST RATES ARE HIGHER, BUT UNEMPLOYMENT IS DOWN, WAGES ARE UP AND THE STOCK MARKET IS 30% HIGHER THAN IT WAS PRE-PANDEMIC.

GENE KREBS, IS THE ECONOMY THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE HERE?

I SUSPECT THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IS DONALD TRUMP, AND THEN THE ECONOMY LIKE A CLOSE SECOND.

>> IT'S -- WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THE ECONOMY IMPACTS YOU UPON WHERE YOU FIT.

IF YOU HAVE STOCKS THEN YOU'RE DOING QUITE WELL.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE STOCKS, YOU'RE OUT THERE IN THE SERVICE ECONOMY AND CROW DON'T, YOU'RE SUFFERING BECAUSE THERE'S A LAG TIME BETWEEN WHEN INFLATION HITS AND YOUR WAGES INCREASE, AND I DO HAVE TO BRING UP A -- THE ONLY WAY I CAN PUT IT, I'LL PUT IT REALLY BLUNTLY, ALL SIDES ARE LYING ABOUT THIS, THEY KEEP SAYING OH, YOU'RE OUTSOURCING ALL OF OUR JOBS TO CHINA.

MICHAEL HICKS FROM BALL STATE WHO IS INDIANA'S VERSION OF NED HILL SAYS -- OSU, CLEARLY STATES 88% OF ALL JOB LOSSES IN AMERICA IS OCCURRED DUE TO AUTOMATION.

IT'S EASIER TO HATE SOMEBODY THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THAN HATE ROBBIE THE ROBOT.

UNTIL WE BEGIN TO ACTUALLY HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT REALITY, ALL YOU'RE GOING TO GET IS PLATITUDES FROM BOTH SIDES.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT BEING ON THE SHOW WITH GENE.

BECAUSE HE AND I AGREE ON THESE THINGS.

I THINK HE HAS GIVEN US A GOOD PRIMER ON WHAT IT IS, NOW, AND YOU STARTED TO TALK ABOUT THE STOCK MARKET.

THE PROBLEM THAT THE ECONOMY IS ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN DIFFERENT FACTORS, INCLUDING GDP, WHAT WE PRODUCE, AND SERVICE INDUSTRY.

INFLATION IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE CONCENTRATE -- WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE INFLATION.

IT MAY BE JUST DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES TRYING TO RETAIN OR CAPTURE BIGGER PIECES OF THE PIE, WHATEVER THAT PIE MIGHT BE AS THE PIE IN 1968 WHEN I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL WAS MUCH SMALLER THAN THE PIE THAT IT IS TODAY.

BUT IT'S STILL THE PIE.

>> JO INGLES, WHATEVER THE REASON, WE'RE PAYING MORE FOR EGGS, MILK, BREAKFAST CEREAL WHEN WE GO TO THE GROCERY STORE.

TAKE IT OUT ON THE PEOPLE IN >> YES, THEY OFTEN DO.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE THING IS THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THE AVERAGE OHIOAN, AND WHAT THE AVERAGE OHIOAN MAKES, WHAT THEY EARN, THE THINGS THAT HIT THEM THE HARDEST ARE THE GAS, THE GROCERIES, THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED EVERY DAY.

SO, THEY'RE FEELING THAT WHEN THEY GO TO THE POLLS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY IT'S -- YOU KNOW, I THINK RIGHT NOW WE'RE SEEING SOME CHANGES IN THE INTEREST RATES.

WE'RE SEEING SOME CHANGES BEING MADE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GIVING TAX CREDITS AND OTHER THINGS, PROMISES TO TRY TO OFFSET SOME OF THOSE, YOU KNOW, COST OF LIVING KIND OF THINGS.

>> THE UNIQUENESS, THOUGH, OF THIS PARTICULAR YEAR IN THAT WE HAVE A VICE PRESIDENT WHO WAS NOT REALLY THE PERSON WHO WAS -- THAT WAS ALL HANGING ON IS RUNNING, AND THERE ISN'T AN AWFUL LOT OF TIME FOR THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN TO NOW REGROUP AND MAKE THESE ARGUMENTS AGAINST A KAMALA HARRIS, AND ALSO SOME OF IT RINGS A LITTLE HOLLOW WHEN YOU SAY IN ONE BREATH, SHE WAS A VERY WEAK VICE PRESIDENT, SHE WASN'T DOING ANYTHING, AND THEN SAYING EVERYTHING IS HER FAULT.

SO, I THINK THAT THAT'S -- >> SHE TOOK CREDIT FOR A LOT OF STUFF THAT JOE BIDEN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

.

I THINK THAT'S THE CHALLENGE THEY'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS SORT OF HOW DO WE THREAD THAT NEEDLE AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TALK ABOUT THE NEGATIVES ABOUT BIDEN?

>> JULIE IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

WE DON'T HAVE AN INCUMBENT THIS TIME AROUND, SO THAT HARRIS CAN ACTUALLY FORGE HER OWN PATH IN THIS THING BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DON'T TRY TO INTERJECT IN HERE, THE REALITY THAT, IN FACT, PRESIDENTS DO NOT HAVE THAT MUCH CONTROL.

YES, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE STIMULUS PACKAGES THAT ARE APPROVED BY CONGRESS.

YES, YOU CAN HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

BUT, ASIDE FROM THAT -- NO, NO.

>> HARRIS.

DONALD TRUMP WANTS TO INCREASE TARIFFS, WHICH WILL LEAD IMMEDIATELY TO PRICE INCREASES IN THE SHORT TERM.

IN THE LONG TERM YOU COULD ARGUE THAT MAYBE IF IT BRINGS MORE PRODUCTION BACK TO THE UNITED STATES, PRICES WOULD STABILIZE AND RATES WOULD GO DOWN, MORE JOBS, ANYWAY.

>> SO FORMER THINK TANK GUY, WATCH MY HEAD EXPLODE.

NOW BOTH PARTIES ARE POPULIST PARTIES, THEY'RE BOTH TRYING TO RUN IN THE EXACT SAME LANE AND I'M GOING, WHERE'S THE DIFFERENCE ON THIS?

BECAUSE HARRIS KEEPS TALKING ABOUT, I'M GOING TO FREEZE -- ARE YOU -- 1969.

>> PRICE CONTROLS SHE'S TALKING ABOUT.

>> WHEN NIXON DID THIS, I CAN REMEMBER WHEN NIXON DID THIS AND IT WAS ABANDONED IN SIX WEEKS.

IT WAS SUCH A DISMAL FAILURE.

OKAY.

AND THEN TRUMP'S TALKING ABOUT TARIFFS.

YOU GO, OH, THE CHINESE WILL PAY FOR IT.

YOU'RE GOING TO PAY AT LEAST PART OF THAT.

AND I'M GOING, THE ECONOMIC ILLITERACY GOING ON IN BOTH PARTIES IS JUST MIND-NUMBING.

>> OKAY.

IT IS MORE THAN TWO YEARS BEFORE THE 2026 ELECTION, BUT A WELL-KNOWN DEMOCRAT SAID SHE IS CONSIDERING A RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

FORMER HEALTH DIRECTOR AMY ACTON, SHE SHOWED UP AT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION AND SPOKE TO CLEVELAND.COM AND COLUMBUS DISPATCH SAID SHE'S CONSIDERING RUNNING IN 2026.

A POLITICAL ADVISER CONFIRMED.

ACTON BECAME NATIONALLY KNOWN FOR HER EMPATHETIC EXPLANATIONS OF COVID DURING THE FIRST DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC, MANY OHIOANS LOVED HER, SOME CONSERVATIVES DENOUNCED HER FOR GOVERNOR DeWINE'S SHUTDOWNS.

SHE BRIEFLY CONSIDERED A RUN FOR U.S. SENATE IN 2022 BUT DECIDED AGAINST IT.

HER ADVISER SAYS SHE WON'T MAKE ANY DECISIONS ON THIS RACE UNTIL AFTER THIS YEAR'S ELECTION.

JOE MAS, GREAT NAME ID, DEVELOPED A LOT OF GOOD WILL, BUT SHE'S NEVER RUN FOR OFFICER BEFORE.

>> YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

THE PROBLEM IS, I THINK TRADITIONALLY, AT LEAST, DEMOCRATS HAVE WANTED SOMEBODY WITH A TRACK RECORD.

AND I THINK THAT SORT OF HISTORY SUPPORTS THAT, THAT WHEN YOU DON'T DO THAT, YOU END UP COMING SHORT.

HOWEVER, I THINK WHAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS CASE, IF SOMEHOW THE PEOPLE THAT LIKE HER AS A CANDIDATE CAN COME UP WITH FINANCIAL SUPPORT.

IF YOU'VE GOT A SUPER PAC, IF YOU'VE GOT SOMEBODY OUT THERE WITH SOME DOUGH, I THINK SHE CAN CRAFT A UNIQUE CAMPAIGN THAT COULD BRING HER TO THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION.

>> JULIE, IS THIS GOOD NEWS FOR THE DEMOCRATS, THAT SHE'S CONSIDERING IT, ALSO SHOWS THAT THERE'S NO OTHER CONTENDER, THERE'S NO -- THEY DON'T -- THEY HAVE SOME DECENT PEOPLE BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE NAME ID SHE HAS.

>> RIGHT, AND EXACTLY TO JOE'S POINT, THERE IS NO ONE WHO HAS STATEWIDE EXPERIENCE BECAUSE IT'S ALL REPUBLICANS RIGHT NOW.

SO, WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS YOU'RE LOOKING AT AN ALLISON RUSSO WHO'S THE LEADER OF THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS OR YOU'RE LOOKING AT A FEW SITTING CONGRESS PEOPLE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT TIM RYAN WHO RAN BEFORE, AND PEOPLE LIKE THAT.

BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, THEY'RE REALLY NOT VERY WELL-KNOWN.

WHEREAS SHE DOES HAVE THAT NAME ID, AND I THINK THAT WAS THE THRILL AROUND HER CONSIDERING THAT SENATE BID BEFORE.

BUT ULTIMATELY, I THINK WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS EXACTLY WHERE SHE LANDED THAT -- IT WASN'T GOING TO BE VIABLE.

>> SHE IS REALLY NOT WELL LIKED, TO PUT IT POLITELY, AMONG VERY FAR RIGHT CONSERVATIVES, WHY IS THAT, GENE?

I MEAN, SHE WAS A POSITION TRYING TO PROTECT PEOPLE BUT SHE IS VILIFIED BY SOME ON THE RIGHT.

>> IT GOES TO A VARIETY OF -- WHEN YOU KNOW WHY ONE OF THEM THINKS THIS, IT'S PROBABLY, YES, IT'S AN ISSUE OF FREEDOM.

DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO TYPE OF THING.

PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT OF MISOGYNY GOING ON IN THERE TOO.

BUT AS FAR AS HER CANDIDACY, LOOK, I HAVE -- YOU CAN HAVE VIDEO OF ME SAYING KAMALA HARRIS, NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

THEY'LL GO SOMEBODY ELSE.

I HAVE SO MUCH EGG ON MY FACE FROM TRYING TO PREDICT WHAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO DO, AND BY THE WAY IT'S ALL FARM FRESH EGGS, ORGANICALLY RAISED, YOU KNOW.

>> WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE YOUR EGGS ON OUR FACE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT.

BUT THE POINT HERE IS THAT I -- I'M ABOUT READY TO HAND IN MY PUNDIT CARD FOR CRYING OUT LOUD.

BECAUSE I CAN'T PREDICT HOW THE D'S ARE GOING TO RESPOND AND I STUDIED IN COLLEGE ANIMAL BEHAVIOR AND FLOCKING TO PEOPLE AND EVERYTHING.

I KNOW THIS TOPIC WELL.

I'M BAFFLED AS TO HOW THINGS ARE WORKING NOW.

>> JOE, I MEAN, IF SHE'S GOING TO RUN SHE ALMOST HAS TO RUN NOW, BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC IS GETTING FARTHER AND FARTHER BACK IN OUR MEMORY, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO REMEMBER WHO SHE IS BUT SHE'S NOT GOING TO HAVE THE SAME MOMENTUM SHE PERHAPS HAS NOW.

>> RIGHT, AND SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES, IT'S NOT JUST COVID.

YOU LOOK AT HEALTH ISSUES RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE VERY BIG, THEY'RE TALKING POINTS, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE TALKING NOT JUST ABORTION, BUT YOU'RE TALKING HEALTH CARE, YOU'RE TALKING A LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES OF HEALTH ACCESS AND THAT KIND OF THING.

AND THAT'S WHERE SOMEONE WHO HAS A BACKGROUND AS A DOCTOR COULD REALLY SPEAK TO THAT IN A WAY THAT VOTERS UNDERSTAND IT.

SO, THOSE ARE HUGE ISSUES RIGHT NOW.

AND SO, YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S THE GREAT TIME TO STRIKE IF SHE'S GOING TO STRIKE.

>> YEAH, AND I THINK THAT THERE IS A -- COULD BE A PARALLEL TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL NOW, KAMALA HARRIS NEVER ONCE MENTIONED SHE WAS A WOMAN IN THIS WHOLE CONVENTION, AND SHE WON'T.

HILLARY CLINTON GOT TO DO THAT FOUR YEARS AGO.

SO, IN THIS CASE, WE HAD WHALEY ALSO RUNNING AGAINST SOMEONE WHO WAS ENDORSED BY GLORIA STEINAM, WE HAD THAT CONVERSATION IN THE LAST GOVERNOR'S RACE, MAYBE OHIO DOESN'T HAVE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND IT BECOMES SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED.

>> VIVEK RAMASWAMY SAID THAT DONALD TRUMP HAS TO TAKE A SOFTER TONE, AND THEN HE SHOWED UP AT THE DNC AND STARTED PICKING SOME ARGUMENTS.

>> PEOPLE HAVE TOLD HIM HE SHOULD CONSIDER RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR IN OHIO.

>> I SAID THIS ON THE SHOW, MY GOD, MAYBE A YEAR AGO, HE WAS GOING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR HERE NOW.

AND IT COMES DOWN TO, ONCE AGAIN, WHAT DOES JD VANCE WANT, WHAT DOES DONALD TRUMP WANT, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF TRUMP WINS OR LOSES WHERE JD VANCE IS, IF THEY ENDORSE VIVEK, HE WINS THE PRIMARY, AUTOMATICALLY, NO MORE DISCUSSION.

>> EVEN IF TRUMP LOSES AGAIN.

>> IT DOESN'T MATTER.

>> LOOK, MY NEIGHBORS AND RELATIVES ALL STILL LOVE -- I MEAN, THE SIGNS ARE GOING UP, AND TO PROVE YOU FRUGAL MY PEOPLE ARE, THEY STILL HAVE THE TRUMP PENCE SIGNS BUT PAINTED OVER PE, AND PUT VA. >> REDISTRICTING IS BACK BEFORE THE OHIO SUPREME COURT, THIS TIME IT'S OVER BALLOT LANGUAGE, THAT SUPPORTERS OF THE AMENDMENT SAY IS MISLEADING AND DESIGNED TO DECEIVE VOTERS AS PROMISED THEY FILED SUIT WITH THE OHIO SUPREME COURT AND ASKED THE COURT TO ORDER THE BALLOT BOARD TO REWRITE THE LANGUAGE.

THIS HAPPENED LAST YEAR WITH THE ABORTION RIGHTS AMENDMENT.

THE COURT ORDERED RELATIVELY MINOR CHANGES, NO WORD ON WHEN THE COURT WILL RULE BUT THEY HAVE TO ACT QUICKLY BECAUSE EARLY VOTING STARTS IN ABOUT SIX WEEKS, IF YOU CAN BELIEVE IT.

JOE INGLES, WHAT IS THEIR ARGUMENT?

WHAT IS THIS AMENDMENT AND WHAT IS THEIR ARGUMENT?

>> SUPPORTERS OF THIS ARGUMENT POINT OUT THAT THE TONE OF THE SUMMARY IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE TONE OF THE AMENDMENT.

THE TONE OF THE SUMMARY IS TAKING POWER AWAY FROM CITIZENS, AND THE TONE OF THE AMENDMENT IS TAKING POWER AWAY FROM POLITICIANS.

THAT'S NOT THE ONLY THING.

THEY'RE ALSO TALKING -- THERE'S SOME DIFFERENCE IN SOME LANGUAGE, SO THAT THIS READS, THE SUMMARY READS LIKE THE COMMISSION IS GOING TO CREATE GERRYMANDERING.

WELL, THEY'RE SAYING, NO, CITIZENS, NOT POLITICIANS, SAYS NO, WE'RE NOT CREATING GERRYMANDERING, WE'RE GETTING RID OF GERRYMANDERING.

THEY ARE OPPOSITE OF EACH OTHER.

THAT'S WHAT THE CITIZENS, NOT POLITICIANS ARE CLAIMING IN COURT, THEY'RE SAYING THIS IS NOT FACTUAL, IT'S POLITICAL AND THEREFORE IT'S NOT CONSTITUTIONAL.

>> JO, WHAT THEY WROTE IS NOT UNTRUE, IT'S JUST LEAVING OUT INCONVENIENT FACTS.

>> NO, I THINK IT'S ALSO UNTRUE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE DISCUSSIONS PRIOR TO COMING UP TO THE WORD THAT I'M ABOUT TO SHARE WITH YOU BEGAN WITH THE WORD THAT THE NEW DISTRICTS ARE GOING TO BE MANIPULATING.

IT WAS A MANIPULATION.

THEN WHAT THEY SETTLED ON WAS THAT THE NEW DISTRICTS WOULD BE GERRYMANDERED.

SO I THINK, QUITE FRANKLY, AS AN ATTORNEY, I THINK THIS WILL BE PRETTY MUCH A SLAM DUNK.

I DO THINK THAT THE APPLIANCE OF THE CURRENT LANGUAGE HAVE A STRONG CASE AND IT SHOULD BE MODIFIED.

AT THE END OF THE DAY I'M NOT SURE THAT IT MATTERS THAT MUCH.

WHEN YOU GO IN THERE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO READ THE THING.

YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO VOTE FOR.

>> AND THE -- YOU KNOW, REDISTRICTING DOES INVOLVE CHANGING EXISTING DISTRICT LINES.

IS THAT MANIPULATION?

WELL, THAT'S SORT OF A CYNICAL WAY OF LOOKING AT IT, BUT IT IS CHANGING.

IT CHANGES.

AND SO, FRANKLIN ROSE SAID THE WAY THIS IS WRITTEN, IT IS MANIPULATION, AND THEY SAID THIS IS THE DICTIONARY DEFINITION OF GERRYMANDERING.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I WAS LOOKING UP THE DICTIONARY DEFINITION OF REDISTRICTING, WHICH IS BASICALLY YOU CHANGE THE LINES IN ORDER TO REFLECT A NEW CENSUS AND TRY TO APPORTION THEM IN A WAY THAT'S FAIR.

BUT, YOU DO CONSIDER PARTISAN PARTICIPATION AROUND THE STATE.

AND SO IT'S A COMPLICATED PROCESS.

>> OPPONENTS TO THE AMENDMENT SAY THIS COULD RESULT IN SOME KIND OF MANIPULATION, GERRYMANDERING OF A DISTRICT TO MAKE IT MORE PROPORTIONAL.

THAT'S WHERE THE ARGUMENTS ARE GOING TO COME IN.

LET ME ASK YOU WHAT JOE JUST ASKED, DOES THIS MATTER, GENE?

>> NO.

ON SATURDAY NIGHT I WAS THE EMCEE FOR 300 AGRICULTURAL FOLKS AT A HUGE DINNER AND I GOT ACCOSTED BY ONE OF THEM WHO SAID CAN'T YOU STOP THOSE IDIOTS IN THE STATE HOUSE FROM BEING IDIOTS?

AND I'M GOING, I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH POWER.

HE PROCEEDED TO SPELL OUT -- AND THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM WERE ALL GOING, YUP.

>> THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> THEY WERE -- THEY WERE -- THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, LOOK, IN OCTOBER OF 2022, A POLL, IT WAS REFERENCED ON THE SHOW, WHERE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS AN APPROVAL RATING OF 6%.

I WAS ALWAYS TOLD ANYTIME YOU GET TO 9%, THAT'S FRIENDS AND FAMILY TERRITORY.

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

>> SECRETARY OF STATE REVEALED A COUPLE DAYS AGO THAT ABOUT 148 FOLKS WERE REGISTERED TO VOTE, AND THEY WERE NOT CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES.

NOW, THEY HAVE BEEN REFERRED FOR PROSECUTION TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

NOW, THE REASON THAT HAPPENS IS BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO RENEW YOUR LICENSE YOU HAVE TO BE ASKED IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND RENEW, OR TO REGISTER TO VOTE, AND A PERCENTAGE WITH A BUNCH OF PAPERS, SOME PEOPLE THAT MAYBE ARE NOT QUITE LANGUAGE EFFICIENT, LIKELY TO SIGN IT.

>> GENE?

>> HARRIS COULD NOT SURVIVE A DEMOCRAT PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY MORE THAN A FEW WEEKS BECAUSE BEING A PROSECUTOR, COULDN'T DO IT.

BUT YET, THAT'S PROVED TO BE HER GREATEST STRENGTH, WHICH PROVES THE FACT FIRST PASSING THE -- GIVING BOTH PARTIES CANDIDATES WHO CAN'T APPEAL TO THE LARGER AUDIENCE.

HER BEING A FORMER PROSECUTOR IS NOW WHAT SHE'S WIELDING OUT IN THE PUBLIC.

>> JULIE.

>> I'M GOING TO BE WATCHING THIS COMING WEEK, WE TALKED ABOUT THE REDISTRICTING FIGHT, AND THERE WILL BE NEW -- THERE WILL BE A NEW ENERGY ON THE NEGATIVE ON THE NO SIDE THIS COMING WEEK, AND SO THAT WILL BE THE START OF THE REAL, I THINK, KICKOFF OF THAT CAMPAIGN.

>> THE OPPONENTS ARE HAVING A FUNDRAISER THIS WEEK.

>> ONE OF THE NEW THINGS THIS WEEK WAS THE ROCKING ROLL CALL AT THE DNC.

.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY OHIO BECAUSE THE DNC HAD TO DECIDE THEIR CANDIDATES SO EARLY THAT IT'S LIKE, OKAY, NOW WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO MAKE IT EXCITING?

THEY PUT IN THE SONGS AND JAZZED IT UP.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE EVER GOING TO SEE A REGULAR ROLL CALL AGAIN.

>> IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT GERRYMANDERING, COMING UP IN A NEW PODCAST, UNTANGLED SERIES LAUNCHED ON MONDAY.

FIND IT WHEREVER YOU FIND YOUR PODCASTS.

THAT IS COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD FOR THIS WEEK, CHECK IT OUT ONLINE AND WATCH ANYTIME ON OUR WEBSITE AND ON YOUTUBE.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

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