>>> ABORTION EMERGES AS A HOT TOPIC IN THE US SENATE RACE.

WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD".

ABORTION RIGHTS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A KEY ISSUE IN THE U.S. SENATE RACE BETWEEN SHERROD BROWN AND HIS REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER BERNIE MORENO.

BUT UNTIL RECENTLY, IT HAS TAKEN A BACK SEAT TO ISSUES LIKE IMMIGRATION, THE ECONOMY, AND MORENO'S BUSINESS RECORD.

THIS WEEK THE ISSUE ROSE TO THE TOP WHEN WCMH-TV OBTAINED A VIDEO OF MORENO DISCUSSING THE ABORTION ISSUE AT A TOWN-HALL-STYLE MEETING LAST WEEK.

>> YOU KNOW THE LEFT HAS A LOT OF SINGLE-ISSUE VOTERS.

SADLY, BY THE WAY, THERE'S A LOT OF SUBURBAN WOMEN, A LOT OF SUBURBAN WOMEN THAT ARE LIKE, LISTEN, ABORTION IS IT.

IF I CAN'T HAVE AN ABORTION IN THIS COUNTRY WHENEVER I WANT, I WILL VOTE FOR ANYBODY ELSE.

OKAY.

IT'S A LITTLE CRAZY, BY THE WAY, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN THAT ARE LIKE PAST 50.

I'M THINKING TO MYSELF, I DON'T THINK THAT'S AN ISSUE FOR YOU.

OH, THANK GOD MY WIFE DIDN'T HEAR THAT ONE.

>> LATER IN THE WEEK AS FIRST REPORTED BY "THE DISPATCH," ANOTHER RECORDING EMERGED, THIS ONE WAS FROM MARCH OF 2023, IN WHICH MORENO SAID THE FOUNDING FATHERS WOULD MURDER SUPPORTERS OF ABORTION RIGHTS.

MORENO'S CAMPAIGN SAID HE WAS JUST JOKING AT THE TOWN MEETING, AND HE WAS DISCUSSING HIS CHRISTIAN FAITH WHEN REFERENCING THE FOUNDING FATHERS.

JULIE CARR SMYTH, IT TOOK A WHILE, BUT THE ISSUE OF REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS IS NOW, AT LEAST FOR THE MOMENT, KIND OF FRONT AND CENTER IN THIS CAMPAIGN.

>> IT REALLY IS.

IT HAS JUST SORT OF CRYSTALLIZED HERE IN THIS, I GUESS, FINAL 40 DAYS OR WHATEVER AS WE SAW A HUGE BACKLASH OVER THIS ON THE PART OF -- OF THOSE WHO SUPPORT ABORTION RIGHTS IN THE STATE.

OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW FROM LAST YEAR THAT'S WELL OVER HALF OF THE ELECTORATE.

YOU KNOW, THERE WERE NEWS CONFERENCES, THERE WERE STATEMENTS COMING OUT, BASICALLY PEOPLE SAYING -- A NUMBER OF THINGS ABOUT THIS STATEMENT.

ONE IS THE IDEA THAT IT SEEMED SOMEWHAT CONDESCENDING TO SOME PEOPLE, BUT ALSO THE IDEA THAT IT REFLECTS THAT A VOTER CAN'T HAVE A RECORD FOR AN ISSUE THAT DOESN'T DIRECTLY IMPACT THEM.

AND SO IT'S REALLY FALLING HARD ON MORENO'S CAMPAIGN THIS WEEK, I WOULD SAY.

>> NIKKI HALEY, TWEETED OUT ASKING IF MORENO WAS TRYING TO LOSE THE ELECTION.

CALLED IT TONE DEAF THIS.

GOES BACK TO MORENO'S SHIFTING POSITION ON THE ABORTION ISSUE.

MUCH MORE RESTRICTIVE ON ABORTION WHEN HE WAS RUNNING IN THE PRIMARY.

>> YEAH, HE WAS ALSO SOMEONE WHO WAS OPPOSED TO THE ABORTION RIGHTS MEASURE WHICH JULIE MENTIONED PASSED BY ABOUT 57% OF THE VOTE LAST NOVEMBER.

SO THE COMMENTS THAT MY COLLEAGUE REPORTED ON WERE AROUND THAT CAMPAIGN.

I THINK AFTER THAT LOSS AND LOSSES IN OTHER STATES, REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN MORE CIRCUMSPECT ON THIS TOPIC, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN DISCUSSING IT IN THE SAME WAY.

I THINK THAT'S WHY THE COMMENTS OF WARREN COUNTY WERE SO INTERESTING THAT, YOU KNOW, HE WAS SPEAKING TO PERHAPS -- PREACHING PERHAPS TO THE CHOIR IN WARREN COUNTY, BUT SUBURBAN COUNTIES IN THAT AREA, BUTLER COUNTY WHICH ONE MIGHT THINK IS MORE REPUBLICAN VOTED FOR THIS MEASURE.

THIS IS A TOPIC THAT REALLY CUTS ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM.

>> HOW DOES BERNIE MORENO WIN ON THIS ISSUE?

IF HE DOES NOT STICK TO HIS ORIGINAL THING WHERE HE'S OEPTD TO ABORTION ACTUALLY WITH NO EXCEPTIONS TO NOW HE'S UP TO LET THE STATES DECIDE, HE WAS FOR A 15-WEEK BAN.

WHERE DOES HE -- HOW DOES HE NAVIGATE THESE WATERS BECAUSE THE RIGHT SIDE IS GOING TO BE MAD AT HIM OR THE LEFT SIDE IS GOING TO BE MAD AT HIM AND THE PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE MIGHT BE MAD AT HIM.

>> POLITICIANS WHETHER IT'S FRACKING OR ABORTION CHANGE POSITIONS.

THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS FROM ALL THE POLLING I'VE SEEN IN OHIO WHICH IS LIMITED ABORTION IS STILL AN ISSUE, BUT IT'S NOT THE ISSUE.

OBVIOUSLY THE DEMOCRATS WOULD RATHER TALK ABOUT ABORTION THAN SOME OTHER ISSUES, AND CLEARLY MANY WOMEN LEGITIMATELY FEEL INSULTED BY WHAT HE SAID, BUT MY GUESS IS BY NEXT WEEK WE WILL BE ON TO SOME OTHER ISSUES BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS CHANGING SO FAST.

SO CLEARLY CANDIDATES OUGHT TO LEARN NOT TO JOKE.

BAD JOKES ARE EVEN WORSE JOKES.

YOU OUGHT TO STICK TO THE ISSUES AND THE ISSUES THAT ARE WORKING FOR YOUR SIDE, NOT GOING OFF ON TANGENTS.

>> THERE ARE CAMERAS EVERYWHERE AS MANY A POLITICIAN HAS NOW LEARNED.

SAM, THIS ALSO COMES AS THE ADS HAVE NOW TURNED, I'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF ANTI-MORENO ADS HIGHLIGHTING HIS ABORTION STANCE AND HIT CHANGING POSITIONS ON ABORTION.

>> I THINK -- FIRST I WILL AGREE WITH TERRY.

CAMERAS ARE EVERYWHERE.

SO YOU DON'T MAKE STUPID STATEMENTS.

AND, TWO, I WAS WAITING FOR THIS ISSUE TO RISE TO THE SURFACE.

NOW, ON THE ISSUE OF WHAT'S THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE, EVERY YEAR, ECONOMICS IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE.

WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THE TOP THREE, TOP FIVE, AND IN THE TOP FIVE, TOP THREE, WHATEVER YOU -- ABORTION IS THERE.

SO IT IS AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES.

WHAT I WAS SURPRISED AT IS LACK OF DISCIPLINE.

AND I THOUGHT THIS GUY WAS LIKE A ROBOT, BUT HE'S NOT.

HE GETS OFF SCRIPT AND HE GOES PLACES HE SHOULDN'T GO.

THIS COULD BE VERY CRITICAL FOR HIM.

>> HE IS A FAIRLY ROOKIE CANDIDATE.

I MEAN, THIS IS REALLY HIS FIRST BIG ELECTION.

HE WON THE PRIMARY OF COURSE AND TOYED WITH THE IDEA OF RUN AGO FEW YEARS AGO BUT THIS IS HIS FIRST BIG CAMPAIGN.

>> RIGHT, IT IS, AND HE'S DONE RALLIES WITH DONALD TRUMP, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST, BUT HE IS REALLY DOING MORE OF THESE STYLE OF EVENTS TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WHICH ARE THESE SMALLER, SORT OF FUNDRAISING, PREACH TO THE CHOIR TYPE THINGS.

I THINK THAT HE DOES TRY TO DO IT IN JEST OR TO MAKE HIMSELF SEEM, YOU KNOW, VERY LIGHTHEARTED AND PERSONABLE, BUT THIS ONE KIND OF -- HE PUT HIS FOOT IN HIS MOUTH.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT'S -- DO YOU THINK THESE CANDIDATES WILL DEBATE?

I'VE HEARD NOTHING ABOUT A POSSIBLE DEBATE.

I KNOW SOME ORGANIZATIONS HAVE PROPOSED A DEBATE BETWEEN THESE TWO CANDIDATES, BUT NOTHING HAS -- >> I THINK BOTH SIDES ARE WORKING ON FIRING UP THEIR BASIS AND INTERESTINGLY SOMEBODY SENT ME A MAIL TARGETED TO REPUBLICANS FROM SHERROD BROWN TRYING TO EMPHASIZE HOW HE VOTES ON TRUMP ON SOME THINGS.

CLEARLY THERE IS A BATTLE OF HOW MUCH DO YOU PUT INTO THE BASE, HOW MUCH DO YOU PUT INTO PERSUASION.

SO THERE'S DIFFERENT BATTLES GOING ON AND OF COURSE WITHOUT A PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN GOING ON IN OHIO THERE IS MORE OF A BURDEN ON SHERROD'S PEOPLE, HOW DO YOU TURN OUT YOUR BASE AND GET TICKET SPLITTERS.

>> I THINK HE HAS GIVEN THEM WHAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO TURN THE PEOPLE OUT.

I THINK THERE'S ANOTHER ISSUE HERE.

SHERROD IS LEADING, WHY DEBATE?

>> I'M NOT SURE SHERROD IS LEADING, IT'S FLAWED POLLING WITH TOO MUCH OF A SAMPLE.

I THINK THE POLLING IN THIS RACE IS ALMOST JUMP BALL, BUT NBC NEWS, HARRY GOMEZ DID A GOOD STORY ON HOW MUCH MORE ON THE FINAL SIX WEEKS IS ON THE AIR FOR BERNIE VERSUS WHAT'S ON FOR SHERROD.

THE QUESTION IS DID SHERROD SPEND TOO MANY TENS OF MILLIONS IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER WITH FLUFF ADS WHEN MAYBE HE SHOULD HAVE TARGETED THE MONEY IN THE LAST MONTH AND A HALF.

>> THERE'S ONE ASPECT OF POLLING THAT PEOPLE ALWAYS AMAZE ME.

THEIR INDEX IS IN POLLING AND THE ONE INDICATOR THAT I ALWAYS USE IS THE PREFERENCE OR A LIKE DOWN FURTHER IN THE POLL ITSELF.

THE PREFERENCE IN BOTH OF THE POLLS THAT I'VE SEEN LIKE SHERROD.

ALL OF THE POLLS THE PREFERENCES SHOW THAT THEY LIKE SHERROD.

DON'T TELL ME ABOUT THE NUMBERS, BUT PEOPLE LIKE SHERROD VERSUS THE OTHER CANDIDATE.

>> THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A FEW YEARS BACK BUT I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE POLLING TODAY BOTH CANDIDATES ARE PROBABLY UPSIDE DOWN AND IT'S SIMILAR FOR PEOPLE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

>> YEAH, WE'RE SEEING SOME REALLY HEAVY ATTACKS ON SHERROD, A LOT OF, AS TERRY SAYS, I'VE SEEN ONE WHERE THEY'RE BASICALLY TALKING ABOUT, BOY, I USED TO REALLY LIKE SHERROD, BUT HE SUPPORTS ALLOWING TRANSGENDER, YOU KNEW, WOMEN TO PLAY SPORTS OR WHATEVER, AND THEY'RE REALLY AIMING IN ON GETTING THAT VOTER WHO HAS SUPPORTED HIM OVER TIME AND MIGHT BE AN INDEPENDENT OR REPUBLICAN.

>> THE WHOLE MESSAGE THAT HE'S TOO LIBERAL FOR OHIO, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE SEEN HIM FOR 18 YEARS.

WE'LL SEE.

>>> USUALLY VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES PALE IN COMPARISON TO THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES, BUT THIS YEAR WITH ONLY ONE DEBATE BETWEEN KAMALA HARRIS AND DONALD TRUMP, TUESDAY'S DEBATE BETWEEN TIM WALZ AND J.D.

VANCE TAKES ON ADDED IMPORTANCE.

THEN YOU ADD IN THE CONTROVERSIES SURROUNDING THE VANCE CAMPAIGN AND THE EVENT BECOMES EVEN MORE COMPELLING.

FOR THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS, VANCE HAS COME UNDER FIRE FOR SPREADING FALSE RUMORS ABOUT SPRINGFIELD.

THIS WEEK AN OLD RECORDING HAS HIM POINTING TO A STUDY THAT SAYS CAR SEAT REGULATIONS HAVE DRIVEN DOWN THE NUMBER OF BABIES BORN IN THIS COUNTRY BY MORE THAN 100,000.

CASEY, THE STUDY IS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND A BOSTON COLLEGE BUSINESS PROFESSOR AS A TEAM.

THEY SAID THAT THE COST OF THE THIRD CAR SEAT IS WHY WE'VE SEEN A POPULATION DECLINE.

SEEMS A BIT OF A STRETCH.

BUT MY QUESTION TO YOU IS WHERE DOES HE COME UP WITH THIS STUFF?

>> WELL, SOMETIMES THESE PROFESSORS DO ALL KIND OF STUDIES AND WHEN YOU START QUOTING THEM YOU GET IN TROUBLE, BUT THE BIG THING IS TUESDAY IS GOING TO BE THE DEBATE AND THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE MINNESOTA GOVERNOR AND VANCE IS GOING TO BE FASCINATING.

LET ME MAKE A PREDICTION.

VANCE WILL NOT MISS OPPORTUNITIES TO GO AFTER THE OPPONENT OR HE WON'T TAKE THE BAIT ON SILLY THINGS AS HARRIS DID ON TRUMP.

DEFINITELY VANCE IS GOING TO DO BETTER THAN TRUMP AND REMEMBER, UNLIKE ME, HE WAS A SUM CUM LAUDE GRADUATE OF OHIO STATE SO HE'S CLEARLY GOT MORE DEBATE SAVVY AND I THINK YOU WILL SEE THAT.

BUT IN THE ULTIMATE ANALYSIS IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT TRUMP VERSUS HARRIS.

THE VPs ARE NICE, BUT THAT'S SECONDARY.

>> DO YOU THINK IT'S AS SECONDARY, SAM, AS IT WAS LIKE WHEN MIKE PENCE AND KAMALA HARRIS DEBATED?

BECAUSE TRUMP AND BIDEN HAD DEBATED TWICE, THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DEBATE A THIRD TIME, THEY DIDN'T FLAKE, IT BUT AT LEAST THEY HAD DEBATED TWICE, THAT WAS THE MAIN EVENT.

THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE WAS KIND OF -- WE REMEMBER IT FOR THE FLY, THAT'S THE ONLY THING WE REMEMBER ABOUT IT.

>> MIKE, I DISAGREE AND I THINK KAMALA HARRIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.

THE VICE PRESIDENT BECAME IMPORTANT THIS TIME BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT STEPPED DOWN.

I THINK IT'S REMINDING A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THE PRESIDENT, WHAT ARE THE CAPABILITIES IN THE VICE PRESIDENT?

IN THIS CASE WE HAVE A VERY CAPABLE PERSON, BUT WHAT ARE THE CAPABILITIES OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES WITH REGARDS TO LEADERSHIP?

I THINK THEY'RE QUITE QUESTIONABLE.

YOU COULD ASK THAT QUESTION AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST BECAUSE OF THE DYNAMICS OF THE SITUATION.

>> IT COMES DOWN TO LIKABILITY.

SAM WAS TALKING ABOUT THE LIKABILITY OF SHERROD BROWN AND I THINK THAT THE POLLS HAVE SHOWN, JESSIE, THAT PEOPLE LIKE TIM WALZ, THE FIRST IMPRESSIONS HIM MORE THAN J.D.

VANCE BECAUSE J.D.

VANCE HAS BEEN PRETTY AGGRESSIVE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND DOING INTERVIEWS.

THE LIKABILITY IS SOMETHING WE WILL MEASURE ON TUESDAY.

>> THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR J.D.

VANCE TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF TO THE NATION, HE IS NOT A PERSON THAT'S BEEN A NATIONAL FIGURE IN POLITICS AND HONESTLY HASN'T EVEN BEEN AN OHIO FIGURE IN POLITICS UNTIL RECENTLY.

HE WON THE RACE IN 2022 AGAINST TIM RYAN AND REALLY HAS HAD A COUPLE DEBATES SO FAR IN HIS POLITICAL CAREER, SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE WHO MAYBE HAVE ONLY HEARD ABOUT HIM THROUGH A MEME OR GIF OR SO FORTH TO GET TO KNOW THE OHIO SENATOR.

>> JULIE, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR, HOW MUCH OF THIS DEBATE IS GOING TO FOCUS ON THE DOGS AND THE CATS IN SPRINGFIELD AND THE CHILDLESS CAT LADIES AND THAT KIND OF STUFF?

>> I KIND OF AGREE WITH SAM, I THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN IT USUALLY IS, PARTLY BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A TRUNCATED RACE, PARTLY BECAUSE BOTH OF THESE VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEES WERE CHOSEN TO GO AFTER THE BLUE WALL, THE PENNSYLVANIA, WISCONSIN, MICHIGAN VOTERS WHO WANT SORT OF THIS MIDDLE AMERICA, DOWN TO EARTH PERSON WHO CAN SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE.

IN BOTH CASES THAT'S SORT OF WHAT THEY OFFER TO THE TICKET.

SO I JUST THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT WHICH ONE COMES OFF AS MOST AUTHENTIC, MAYBE MOST HONEST AND RELAXED, AND I THINK THAT J.D.

VANCE IS WELL-KNOWN FOR BEING QUITE SMART, ARTICULATE, KIND OF UNFLAPPABLE IN THESE KIND OF SITUATIONS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.

THAT'S SORT OF HIS REPUTATION, PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME.

>> AND PEOPLE FORGET PENNSYLVANIA IS STILL THE PIVOT STATE THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO DECIDE THE ELECTION AND IF SHE HAD PICKED SHAPIRO, THE GOVERNOR THERE, I THINK THE RACE MIGHT BE OVER BY NOW, BUT SHAPIRO IS NOT ON THE TICKET, PENNSYLVANIA IS PROBABLY GOING TO DECIDE T BY THE WAY, AS A PREDICTION FOR SATURDAY NIGHT TO PLUG "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" WILL BE BACK FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THEY HAVE HAD A WHOLE SUMMER AND EARLY FALL WORTH OF MATERIAL, HOW DO THEY PACK IT IN IN 90 MINUTES?

>> IS J.D.

VANCE TRYING TO WIN OVER UNDECIDEDS OR MOBILIZE HIS BASE IN IN DEBATE?

>> PROBABLY A LITTLE OF BOTH.

I THINK PEOPLE WILL SEE AS HE EXHIBITED IN THE DEBATES IN 2022, BOTH IN THE PRIMARY AND IN THE FALL, THAT HE IS CAPABLE AND HAS GOT SOME DEPTH AND DETAIL AND I'M NOT SURE THEY WILL DIG INTO THE OTHER ISSUES THAT MUCH.

AND WALZ IS SUCH A DIFFERENT PERSONALITY THAN, SAY, SHAPIRO.

>> AND I THINK THOSE THINGS WILL BE IMPORTANT.

I AGREE, MORE IMPORTANT DURING THIS CANDIDACY AND THIS CAMPAIGN.

CAUSTIC PERSONALITIES DON'T DO WELL.

WE HAVE TWO -- A COACH AND A GIRL WHO WORKED AT McDONALD'S.

WE HAVE A SENATOR AND A BUSINESSMAN WHO ARE VERY CAUSTIC.

THEY TURN YOU OFF.

YOU HAVE TO FORCE YOURSELF TO LIKE THEM.

WHEN YOU MEET THEM, THEY'RE NOT THE TYPE OF PERSONALITIES YOU LIKE.

AND I'M TELLING YOU THAT'S GOING TO WIN.

>> WELL, WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS TUESDAY NIGHT.

IT WILL BE KEY.

>>> THINGS APPEAR TO BE QUIETING DOWN IN SPRINGFIELD.

THE RHETORIC HAS CERTAINLY DIED DOWN.

BOMB THREATS HAVE STOPPED.

SIX REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMEN FROM OHIO HAVE ASKED FOR EMERGENCY FEDERAL FUNDS TO HELP THE CITY COPE WITH THE STRESS THE IMMIGRANT POPULATION HAS PUT ON POLICE, SCHOOLS AND THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

THIS WEEK GOVERNOR DeWINE SET UP A MOBILE HEALTH CLINIC.

THE GOAL IS TO REDUCE WAIT TIMES FOR BASIC MEDICAL SERVICES LIKE VACCINATIONS AND BLOOD PLEASURE SCREENINGS.

THE STATE AND COUNTY PLAN TO ESTABLISH A MORE PERMANENT HEALTH CLINIC IN SPRINGFIELD.

IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE.

JESSIE BALMERT, SAY WHAT YOU WILL ABOUT THE CATS AND THE DOGS.

IT'S PROMPTED ACTION DOWN THERE.

I MEAN, WE ARE ALL PAYING ATTENTION AND THE LAWMAKERS AND POLICYMAKERS ARE PAYING ATTENTION.

>> YEAH, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS, THE RESPONSE LIKE THE HEALTH CLINIC OR THE FUNDING, I THINK ONE WISHES THOSE COULD HAVE COME WITHOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO SPRINGFIELD WHICH WAS THREATS FROM OVERSEAS, THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ATTENTION, A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF NEGATIVE ATTENTION ON THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD, WHICH I THINK BY ALL ACCOUNTS DID HAVE ISSUES WITH THE RISING POPULATION AND THESE ARE MAYBE SOME OF THE ANSWERS TO THOSE PROBLEMS, BUT DID WE HAVE TO GET THERE IN SUCH A NASTY WAY?

>> DO YOU THINK WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN THERE WITHOUT THIS?

BECAUSE THE MAYOR AND THE LOCAL OFFICIALS HAD BEEN ASKING FOR HELP.

THE MEDIA HAD DONE SOME REPORTING ON IT IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER, BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL THIS BLEW UP THAT MIKE DeWINE WAS OUT THERE ALL OF A SUDDEN.

>> WELL, HE'S BEEN THERE A WHILE BECAUSE AS HE DID "THE NEW YORK TIMES," HE'S ALMOST GROWN UP IN SPRINGFIELD, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY -- IT'S A SAD THING THAT SOMETIMES UNLESS YOU GET SOME MEDIA ATTENTION PEOPLE IGNORE PROBLEMS.

BUT LET ME GIVE YOU A LITTLE PREDICTION, TRUMP WILL NOT BE IN SPRINGFIELD VISITING BETWEEN NOW AND ELECTION DAY IN PART PER MY IMPECCABLE SOURCE EVERYTHING IS BOOKED UP THAT COULD BE A SITE.

SOMEBODY WAS SMART TO MAKE SURE IF SOMEBODY CALLS AND SAYS WE WANT TO COME IN THERE'S NO PLACE AVAILABLE IN SPRINGFIELD.

>> WHEN DID THE BOOKINGS TAKE PLACE?

THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS?

>> THEY'VE HAPPENED BUT THERE ARE SOME SMART PEOPLE IN SPRINGFIELD WHO KNEW WE'VE GOT ENOUGH ATTENTION.

I THINK IN GENERAL, GOOD OR BAD, THE MEDIA HAS MOVED ON.

>> I JUST NEED TO MAKE A POINT ON THIS THAT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, KIND OF NAGGING AT ME.

YOU KNOW, MEDIA ATTENTION DIDN'T NEED TO HAPPEN IN THIS CASE TO GET ACTION.

J.D.

VANCE HIMSELF WAS WELL AWARE, HE WAS TESTIFYING ON CAPITOL HILL ABOUT THIS.

THE LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS WERE WELL AWARE.

GOVERNOR DeWINE WAS WELL AWARE.

WHAT THE MEDIA ATTENTION TO ELECT DONALD TRUMP AND J.D.

VANCE TO OFFICE.

IT WAS NOT ABOUT ACTION.

DeWINE IN HIS FIRST NEWS CONFERENCE SAID OVER THE LAST YEAR I'VE SENT THIS, THIS, THIS, I'M GOING TO SEND SOME MORE.

THEY'RE GETTING ATTENTION FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING -- >> THAT CHECK CAME IN AFTER THE THING BLEW UP, THOUGH, THE BIG CHECK THAT DeWINE SENT.

>> RIGHT.

TO CALM THINGS DOWN.

>> THERE IS AN OLD ADAGE FROM PEOPLE IN SOCIAL WORK I DON'T CARE HOW YOU GOT THE MONEY, YOU GOT THE MONEY.

THIS WAS A DOUBLE-END SWORD.

IT BROUGHT BAD RECOGNITION TO THE CITY BUT IT BROUGHT STUFF THAT HELPED SOLVE THE PROBLEM THEN I'M OKAY WITH T THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE, THOUGH, OF THIS CAUSTIC PERSONALITIES AND HOW THEY ARE DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT FROM WALZ AND KAMALA.

THESE ARE NICE UPBEAT PEOPLE.

THESE PEOPLE HATE THINGS, HATE PEOPLE, DRAG THINGS DOWN, MAKE THINGS TOXIC.

THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS ELECTION.

>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER CITIES IN OHIO WHERE IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS HAVE REALLY SORT OF GROWN?

>> WE'VE HEARD THAT THE HAITIANS MOVED KIND OF ON UP THE ROAD BECAUSE IT IS VERY CROWDED IN SPRINGFIELD NOW, SO FINLEY, LIMA AND THEY'RE RIGHT SORT OF AT THE BEGINNING OF WHERE SPRINGFIELD WAS A COUPLE YEARS AGO TRYING TO DEAL WITH THAT.

>> SOMETHING TOPPED UP TODAY IN SYDNEY, SHELBY COUNTY IN THE WESTERN PART THAT'S GOT A LOT OF MANUFACTURING.

THESE ISSUES ARE AROUND AND THE QUESTION IS WHAT RESPONSIBILITY DOES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE TO DO MORE TO HELP OUT AND THE COMMUNITIES DEAL WITH THESE CHALLENGES.

>> FILLING JOBS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING UNFILLED, OTHER IMMIGRANTS AS WELL.

WHERE ARE THE PRIVATE COMPANIES THIS SHOULD ALWAYS BE A GOVERNMENT ISSUE TO HELP WITH HOUSING AND HEALTH CARE.

>> THEY TAKE THE EMPLOYEES, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SAY ANYTHING PUBLICLY ON ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER.

THEY LOOK FORWARD TO THESE TYPES OF EMPLOYEES.

ANSWERING THE QUESTION, THOUGH, THE SPANISH SPEAKING LARGE POPULATION IN TOLEDO AND THE HAITIANS HAVE MOVED UP TOWARD MICHIGAN ALONG THAT SAME ROUTE.

ANN ARBOR NOW, YOU WILL SEE MORE ETHNIC GROUPS INSIDE MICHIGAN, ANN ARBOR, THE CITY ITSELF.

SO THOSE GROUPS ARE MOVING UP, LIKE THE MIGRATION FROM THE SOUTH OF AFRICAN AMERICANS.

WE MOVE WHERE THE JOBS ARE.

SO THAT'S NOT UNUSUAL.

>> OKAY.

>>> LAST TOPIC, THE ISSUE ONE ADVERTISING BATTLE HAS BEGUN, AND SUPPORTERS OF THE REDISTRICTING AMENDMENT HAVE A CLEAR ADVANTAGE.

THE GROUP CITIZENS NON-POLITICIANS HAS BOOKED $19 MILLION WORTH OF TV ADS.

THOSE ADS STARTED RUNNING THIS WEEK.

OPPONENTS TO ISSUE ONE, A GROUP CALLED OHIO WORKS, SAYS IT HAS BOOKED UP TO $2 MILLION WORTH OF AD TIME.

WE HAVE SIX WEEKS, THE ADS JUST STARTED RECENTLY.

DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO ELIMINATE CONFUSION ON THIS ISSUE WHICH CONFUSION CAN OFTEN LEAD TO A NO VOTE IN NOVEMBER?

>> I THINK THERE ARE A GROUP OF WHAT I WOULD IDENTIFY AS LIBERAL ISSUES THAT ARE CROWDING THE BALLOT OUT AND I THINK THERE IS A WAVE THAT COMES WITH THAT.

WHEN THOSE THINGS DOMINATE THE BALLOT, PEOPLE TEND TO GRAVITATE TO THESE THINGS AND DO THEM AS A GROUP.

YES, WE'RE GOING TO PASS ISSUE ONE.

WHY?

BECAUSE THE LAST TWO VOTES ON THE SUBJECT WE HAD A 70% PLURALITY OR BETTER.

WE MAY NOT GET TO 70% PLURALITY, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT OUR ADS AND WHAT OUR ADS PURPORT TO SAVER SUSS THE OPPONENT'S ADS AND WHAT THEY PURPORT TO SAY, AGAIN, IT'S TOXIC.

>> THE OPPONENT'S AD SAYS THAT THIS PLAN WOULD DO AWAY WITH THE PLAN THAT WAS APPROVED BY 70% OF THE VOTE.

>> THAT'S A LIE.

AND EVERYBODY KNOWS IT WHO HAS SOME KNOWLEDGE.

I'VE SEEN PEOPLE ON TELEVISION SAY THINGS THAT ARE ABSOLUTE LIES.

NOW, THAT'S ONE THING THAT BOTHERS ME ABOUT THIS GENERATION OF POLITICIANS.

AND THE PUBLIC LET'S THEM GET AWAY WITH IT.

ABSOLUTE LIES.

>> SAM, YOU OUGHT TO READ THE THING WAS PASSED TWICE BY OHIO VOTERS 70% PLUS MAKES A PRIORITY ON KEEPING COUNTIES AND COMMUNITIES WHOLE AND THIS NEW PLAN IS SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY DID IN MICHIGAN AND, SAM, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY GOT SCREWED UP THERE IN TERMS OF LOSS OF SEATS.

RIGHT NOW IN CONGRESS THREE OF THE 15, 20% ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALES AND THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE IF WHAT HAPPENS IN MICHIGAN OWE CAN URS.

>> SEE, THIS IS A PART OF THE GOBBLEDEGOOK THAT PEOPLE PUT OUT.

>> IT HAPPENED IN MICHIGAN THAT WAY.

>> THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN OHIO.

AND I'M NOT SURE IT HAPPENED IN MICHIGAN THAT WAY.

YOU SAY IT HAPPENED IN MICHIGAN THAT WAY.

THE PEOPLE I TALK TO IN DETROIT AND WAYNE COUNTY, THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY TELL ME.

>> THEY HAD TO GO TO COURT BECAUSE THERE WERE NO AFRICAN AMERICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS REPRESENTING DETROIT.

>> SO, JESSIE, HOW ARE YOU LOOKING AT THIS RACE -- BECAUSE IT IS A VERY CROWDED BALLOT, DONALD TRUMP HAS A CLEAR ADVANTAGE IN THIS STATE.

HE JUST MIGHT CARRY BERNIE MORENO TO VICTORY.

DOES HE HURT THE CHANCES OF THE YES SIDE ON THIS OR WILL THERE BE MORE BALLOT SPLITTERS ON THIS CASE, DO YOU THINK?

>> I DO BELIEVE THAT THAT IS THE HOPE OF THE REPUBLICANS, THE OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THEN THE NO CAMPAIGN ON THIS, IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR AD IT FEATURES JOE BIDEN, IT FEATURES KAMALA HARRIS.

SO THEY'RE REALLY TRYING TO MAKE THIS A PARTISAN ISSUE, VERSUS THE PROPONENTS ARE TRYING TO SAY THIS IS NONPARTISAN.

THIS IS GOOD GOVERNMENT.

AND SO WHICH ISSUE WILL KIND OF WIN THE DAY?

AT ITS BASE IF YOU VOTE YES ON ONE IT'S REPLACING THE CURRENT SYSTEM WITH A 15-MINUTE CITIZEN COMMISSION TO DRAW A LEGISLATIVE AND CONGRESSIONAL MAP.

IF YOU VOTE NO YOU'RE KEEPING OUR CURRENT SYSTEM WHICH IS A SEVEN-MEMBER COMMISSION OF POLITICIANS OR SOMETIMES IT STARTS WITH THE LAWMAKERS.

THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.

>> SAM GRESHAM WAS ON ONE YES AD AIMED AT AFRICAN AMERICAN VOTERS.

>> HE DOES A GREAT JOB IN THE AD.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU WILL HAVE TO FIND IT ON YOUR OWN.

THE OTHER AD, JULIE, STARTS WITH A FARMER WHO SAYS HE IS A CONSERVATIVE, THEN AN AFRICAN AMERICAN GUY WHO SAYS HE'S INDEPENDENT AND AN OLDER WOMAN WHO IS A LIBERAL AND THEY ALL SAY WE NEED A CHANGE OF SYSTEM.

>> AND THAT IS A REFLECTION OF WHAT WE HEARD WHEN THEY LAUNCHED THE CAMPAIGN CITIZENS NOT POLITICIANS WAS HIGH-PROFILE FIGURES, FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE MARIE OWE CONNERS, REPUBLICAN, MAGEE BROWN A DEMOCRAT AND THAT THEIR WHOLE COALITION IS NOT PARTISAN OR IS BIPARTISAN.

>> BIPARTISAN.

>> SO I JUST THINK THAT THE -- THERE IS TO SAY -- AND, YOU KNOW, IT COULD DEPEND ON HOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT SHERROD BROWN, WHETHER THEY COME OUT, THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE MIDDLE AND I JUST DON'T THINK ANYONE IS GOING TO BE -- OR PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE LESS LIKELY VOTING THE STRAIGHT TICKET THIS YEAR BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF A CONFUSING BALLOT.

>> LET'S GET TO OUR FINAL OFF THE RECORD PARTY SHOT.

SAM GRESHAM, YOU ARE UP FIRST.

>> I THINK THIS ELECTION, UNFORTUNATELY, IS A VERY IMPORTANT ELECTION AND I THINK THE POINT THAT YOU MADE, THE VALUE SITUATION, TELLING THE TRUTH, I HOPE AFTER THIS ELECTION BECOMES A TOPIC THAT WE SIT DOWN AND HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT.

>> TERRY?

>> THIS WEEK STRS, THE TEACHERS RETIREMENT THINK TOOK SEVERAL PUZZLING TWISTS INCLUDING STAFF LEAVING, A $2 MILLION MAYOUT TO AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THEY KIND OF FIRED BUT WANTED HIS SILENCE.

THERE WILL BE A LOT MORE TO COME AND SADLY FOR EVERYBODY, NOT JUST TEACHERS BUT OTHER PUBLIC EMPLOYEES THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT ULTIMATELY HAVE TO BE SOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>> JULIE?

>> I WILL JUST TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLUG A STORY THAT SHOULD BE -- OF MINE THAT WE WILL BE PUBLISHING SHORTLY, BUT IT GETS INTO ALL THE VARIOUS DEFINITIONS OF GERRYMANDERING THAT HAVE COME UP OVER THE COURSE OF THIS.

SO I EVEN GOT A CHANCE TO INTERVIEW THE OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY WAS LIKE MY CAREER HIGH POINT.

>> JESSIE?

>> THIS WEEKEND IS HOMECOMING FOR OHIO UNIVERSITY AND I WILL BE JOINING THE ALUMNI MARCHING BAND AND HOPEFULLY NOT STRAINING OR SPRANG ANYTHING PRIOR TO ELECTION DAY.

>> Z AT BAND IS OFTEN IN JEOPARDY OF DOING.

>>> FORMER OHIO SUPREME COURT JUSTICE HERB BROWN CELEBRATES HIS 93 RDS BIRTHDAY ON FRIDAY.

JUSTICE BROWN LEFT THE COURT AT THE END OF 1992 TO FOCUS ON WRITING, AND HE'S STILL WRITING.

HE HAS JUST PUBLISHED HIS THIRD NOVEL, "DARKNESS LIES IN WAIT," INSPIRED BY A DEATH PENALTY CASE HE HEARD WHILE ON THE BENCH.

HE'S ALSO WRITTEN SEVEN PLAYS.

HE SAYS WRITING KEEPS HIM GOING, BUT WHO KNOWS FOR HOW LONG?

HOPEFULLY FOR A WHILE LONGER.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JUSTICE BROWN.

>>> THAT'S "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" FOR THIS WEEK.

CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK, WE WILL PUT JULIE'S ARTICLE THERE, YOU CAN ALSO WATCH US ANYTIME AT OUR WEBSITE WOSU.ORG/COTR, ON DUE TUBE AND ON THE PBS VIDEO APP.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

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