WHAT'S INSIDE THE INTEL DEAL?

AND REDISTRICTING HEADS BACK TO COURT.

>>>   JOINING US ON COLUMBUS "ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK, WAR BISHOP STATEHOUSE REPORTER FOR THE USA TODAY OHIO NETWORK.

DERRICK, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST AND BOB, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST.

IT HAS BEEN A WEEK SINCE THE STATE WAS W-GREAT FANFARE ANNOUNCED INTEL PLANS TO BUILD AT LEAST TWO COMPUTER CHIP FACTORIES IN NEW ALBANY, THE $20 BILLION PROJECT WILL EMPLOY THOUSANDS OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND THEN 3,000 PERMANENT WORKERS WHEN FINISHED IN 2025.

HERE'S WHAT THE OHIO TECH FAIRS ARE GIVING UP TO LAND THE HUGE PROJECT THE INCENTIVE PACKAGE FROM THE STATE IS THERE ARE 2 BILLION, $600 MILLION A CASH GRANT TO INTEL TO MOVE CHIP MANUFACTURING FROM OVERSEAS TO OHIO, $691 MILLION TO PAY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, THINGS LIKE WATER, SEWER, AND ROADWAYS AND $650 MILLION WILL COME FROM A JOB CREATION TAX CREDIT PASSED RECENTLY INTO LAW.

THE STATE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SAYS THE MONEY IS WELL WORTH IT.

THE RECRUITMENT SHOWS OHIO HAS THE RIGHT FORMULA TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES.

>> AND IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT WHY OHIO WON A PROJECT OF THIS MAGNITUDE, AND IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO WIN, AND TO CONTINUE TO BRING PROJECTS LIKE THIS TO FRUITION, THAT PROCESS WILL CONTINUE TO BE FOLLOWED AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING IT DONE.

>> AND CAN I JUST FOLLOW UP, IS THERE ANYTHING THEY WANTED THAT THE STATE WAS UNWILLING TO GIVE THEM?

>> NOT THAT I CAN RECALL, NO.

>> WELL, IT SOUNDS LIKE A BLANK CHECK TO GET THIS HUGE PROJECT, HOW DO STATE OFFICIALS JUSTIFY SUCH A LARGE CHUNK OF MONEY FOR THIS PRIVATE COMPANY?

>> WELL, THE VERY FIRST PHASE OF THIS, INTEL IS EXPECTED TO INVEST ABOUT $20 BILLION AND THAT WILL RESULT IN 3,000 JOBS MAKING ABOUT AN AVERAGE OF $135,000 A YEAR PLUS BENEFITS, AND THEN CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND INDIRECT JOBS ON TOP OF THAT, AND SO IT IS A VERY, VERY LARGE PROJECT, IT'S THE BIGGEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN OHIO HISTORY.

IT IS BIGGER THAN WHEN HONDA CAME TO HONDA.

AND REALLY KIND OF GREW FROM THERE.

SO IT'S GIANT.

AND THAT'S HOW THEY JUSTIFY IT.

BUT TOP OF THE $1.9 BILLION THAT THE STATE IS GETTING, JOBS OHIO WILL BE GETTING ABOUT $150 MILLION IN CASH AND PENDING A FEDERAL, IN CONGRESS, IS A FEDERAL CHIPS ACT, WHICH WOULD ALSO PROVIDE MORE INCENTIVES FOR CHIP, SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURERS TO MOVE THEIR OPERATIONS BACK TO THE U.S., AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER CHUNK OF INCENTIVES THAT COULD BE DUMPED INTO THIS PROJECT AS WELL.

>> BOB PLAGUE, IT'S ODD WHEN $150 MILLION SEEMS LIKE A DROP IN THE BUCKET.

THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY, FOR A COMPANY THAT HAS AN ANNUAL PROFIT OF ABOUT $20, $22 BILLION.

DO WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM THAT MUCH MONEY TO GET THEM TO BUILD HERE IN OHIO?

>> WELL, YES, BECAUSE THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER.

I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MANY OTHER STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY WERE PITCHING ON THIS.

I WAS READING SOME NEWSPAPERS IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, WHO THEY THOUGHT FOR SURE THEY WERE GOING TO GET IT, AND THEY DIDN'T, BECAUSE OHIO GOT IT.

I MEAN THIS WAS BIG.

THIS IS BIG.

AND IT'S GOING TO RESULT IN A LOT OF, MORE JOBS, AND NOT ONLY THE 3,000 THERE, BUT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT ANCILLARY JOBS OF 5 TO 10,000 MORE.

AND THAT'S A LOT OF TAX DOLLARS.

SO LOCING AND STATE ENTITIES ARE -- LOCAL AND STATE ENTITIES ARE GOING TO GET A LOT OF TAX MONEY BECAUSE OF THIS.

>> THE ADMINISTRATION, THE DEWINE ADMINISTRATION SAYS THAT FOR EVERY SIX CENTS THE STATE SPENDS ON THIS, INTEL WILL SPEND A DOLLAR.

IS THAT A GOOD RETURN ON INVESTMENT, DO YOU THINK?

>> I DO.

YOU KNOW, YOU'VE HEARD THE OLD SAYING YOU GOT TO SPEND MONEY TO MAKE MONEY AND THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT.

THIS INVESTMENT IN OHIO IS GOING TO ADD ABOUT $2.8 BILLION TO OHIO'S ANNUAL GROSS STATE PRODUCT.

SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT JUST INTEL, THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE ABOUT 40 TO A SUPPLIERS THAT ARE GOING TO FOLLOW INTEL IN THIS ENDEAVOR.

JUST OHIO DOESN'T MAKE OUT HERE.

THE WHOLE STATE OF OHIO MAKES OUT HERE AND WITH THIS DEAL, OHIO WILL BE THE NEW SILICON, NOT VALLEY, BUT THE SILICON PATH LAND.

SO THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS MONUMENTAL.

I DON'T THINK, WE'RE GOING TO SEE RIPPLE EFFECTS ON THIS, OUR AIRPORT IS GOING TO GET EXPANDED AS RESULT OF THIS.

AND INFRASTRUCTURE IS GOING TO GET EXPANDED.

AND EVERY PART OF THE STATE IS GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS INVESTMENT IN OUR STATE.

>> WELL, YOU ASKED DURING THE MEDIA AVAILABILITY TODAY FOR THE DETAILS, SO WE HAD THE BIG NUMBERS, BUT WE STILL DON'T HAVE A LOT OF THE DETAILS, AS TO HOW THIS MONEY WILL BE SPENT, AND WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM IT, CORRECT?

>> RIGHT, SO THIS PROJECT WAS ANNOUNCED LAST FRIDAY AND NOW A WEEK LATER, THEY GAVE US THE BROAD BRUSH STROKES OF, YOU KNOW, THE BUCKETS OF MONEY, THE 600 MILLION HERE, THE 691 THERE, THE 650 MILLION, IT ALL ADDS UP TO ABOUT 2 BILLION WHICH BY THE WAY IS ABOUT 10% OF THE $20 BILLION PACKAGE.

AND THE NITTY GRITTY DETAILS ARE TBD.

AND I DON'T MEAN TO BE DETERMINED.

I MEAN TO BE DISCLOSED.

BECAUSE I'M SURE THEY KNOW ALL OF THOSE DETAILS, THEY JUST HAVEN'T RELEASED THEM TO THE PUBLIC YESTERDAY.

>> BOB, EVEN DERRICK CLAY RAVED ABOUT THIS PROJECT, A GOOD INVESTMENT FOR THE STATE AND LIKE DEWINE SAID LAST WEEK, FRONT AND CENTER, ANNOUNCING THE DEAL BUT TODAY, THEY SENT OUT THEIR DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR TO TALK ABOUT SORT OF THE BAD NEWS.

HERE'S THE STATE TAX MONEY THAT'S COMING OUT.

IF IT IS SUCH A GOOD DEAL, WHY NOT THE GOVERNOR SAYING WHY THIS INVESTMENT IS WORTH IT?

>> WELL, MIKE, HER NAME'S NOT ON THE BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER.

THOSE TWO NAMES ARE ON THE BALLOT.

SO, BUT I MEAN I THINK IT'S NOT LIKE EVERYBODY DIDN'T REALIZE THIS WAS GOING TO, YOU KNOW, TO HAPPEN.

I MEAN WE WEREN'T GOING TO HAVE TO, WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE UP SOMETHING TO GET THIS.

$2 BILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY.

I MEAN THAT'S, $2 BILLION TO JUST ORDINARY REGULAR PEOPLE IS A LOT OF MONEY.

TO THE REGULAR ORDINARY REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTER, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

SO I CAN SEE WHERE THEY MAY NOT WANT TO BE TOO ATTACHED TO THAT.

>> THERE'S LITTLE RUMBLINGS OF JEALOUSY.

WHY IS COLUMBUS GETTING $2 BILLION, MORE THAN $2 BILLION IN STATE MONEY TO ATTRACT THIS COMPANY?

WHY ISN'T IT DOWN IN THE CINCINNATI AREA, UP IN THE CLEVELAND, YOUNGSTOWN AREA?

DO THEY HAVE A VALID POINT THERE?

>> SURE, AND I MEANT TO SAY, SILICON HEARTLAND, ON MY LAST COMMENT, I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, YOU KNOW, CENTRAL OHIO HAS 24 PLUS HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTIONS, HERE AND AROUND CENTRAL OHIO, AND SO REALLY TO ATTRACT TALENT, THAT'S GOING TO BE WORKING IN THESE FACILITIES, IS SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO THIS DEAL.

AND TOLEDO, TOLEDO, YOUNGSTOWN, THE CAMDEN, AKRON'S OF THE -- CANTON, AKRON'S OF THE WORLD, THEY'RE GOING TO BENEFIT.

THIS IS A HUGE DEAL.

AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF WHAT THERE THIS IS GOING TO DO FOR OUR STATE.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES THAT ARE COMING IN FROM ALL OVER, ALL OVER THE WORLD, REALLY, TO BE HERE, BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE THE LARGEST MICRO CHIP MANUFACTURER ON THE PLANET.

OR PLANT AROUND THE WORLD.

>> WE'LL GET SOME OF THOSE DETAILS AND TALK ABOUT THIS FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD.

>>> THE NEXT TOPIC ONCE AGAIN THE OHIO SUPREME COURT HOLDS THE STATE OF OHIO'S REDISTRICTING PROCESS IN ITS HANDS.

IN THE PAST WEEK, THE OHIO REDISTRICTING COMMISSION APPROVED NEW VERSIONS OF THE MASTER OHIO HOUSE AND SENATE DISTRICTS, A LITTLE LESS PARTISANS THAN THE ONES REJECTED BY THE SUPREME COURT EARLIER THIS MONTH.

THOSE MAPS GAVE REPUBLICANS A CLEAR ADVANTAGE IN ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THE STATE'S DISTRICTS.

THE NEW MAPS, NARROWS THAT ADVANTAGE FROM 57% TO 43%, THAT IS CLOSER TO HOW OHIO VOTERS BREAK DOWN.

BUT DEMOCRATS SAY THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

AND THE MAPS REMAIN RIGGED.

REPUBLICAN LEADERS SAY THAT'S THE BEST THEY CAN DO, GIVEN THAT THEY HAVE TO MEET OTHER REQUIREMENTS AS WELL.

DERRICK CLAY IS, THIS CLOSE ENOUGH?

DO YOU THINK THE COURT WILL TAKE THIS AS A GOOD SOLID ATTEMPT TO BALANCE THE MAP?

>> I DON'T THINK IT IS CLOSE ENOUGH AT ALL.

AND I THINK IT WAS VERY ARROGANT OF THE REPUBLICANS IN THE FIRST PLACE TO SUBMIT MAPS THAT ARE WORSE THAN THEY WERE TEN YEARS AGO.

SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY I WAS SLAPPED DOWN AT THE SUPREME COURT BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE.

.

NOW WE'RE IN A POSITION NOW WHERE THEY TRY TO MAKE A FEW TWEAKS HERE AND THERE.

BUT IT'S REALLY NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

AND I'LL BE SURPRISED, I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF THE SUPREME COURT COMES BACK AND SAYS THAT YOU NEED TO DO THIS OVER.

>> WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT CHIEF JUSTICE O'CONNOR, THE SWING VOTE, SHE'S THE ONE THAT THE COMMISSION HAS TO CONVINCE.

DEMOCRATS ARGUE THAT EVEN THOUGH 12 DISTRICTS LEAN DEMOCRATIC, IT'S A SLIGHT LEAD.

IT IS BASICALLY STILL A TOSS-UP.

WILL SHE GET THAT PICKY WITH THIS MAP OR DO YOU THINK SHE WILL LOOK AT THE OVERALL NUMBERS?

>> I THINK WHAT SHE'S GOING TO LOOK AT IS WHAT THE STATE CONSTITUTION SAYS ABOUT THIS, AND WHAT IT DOESN'T SAY ABOUT THIS IS THAT THE PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION IN THE STATE IS NOT THE OVERRIDING ISSUE, OR YOU KNOW, COMPONENT TO DRAWING THESE DISTRICTS.

IT'S ONLY ONE OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT COMPONENTS, INCLUDING CONTIGUOUSNESS AND OTHER THINGS LIKE.

THAT THE DEMOCRATS CAME UP WITH A MAP THAT HAD A DEMOCRAT DISTRICT THAT WENT FROM THE CITY OF ATHENS, WITH A LITTLE SLIVER ACROSS THE COUNTY TO PICK UP THE CITY OF CHILLICOTHE.

IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START DRAWING MAPS LIKE THANKS JUST TO TRY TO GET TO THAT 54 -- MABS LIKE THAT JUST TO TRY TO GET TO THAT 54-45 SPLIT, THAT'S RIDICULOUS AND THAT'S WHAT THE COURT'S GOT TO LOOK AT.

HOW EXTREME DO YOU WANT TO GO TO ACHIEVE THE PERFECT PROPORTION TO THROW OTHER ASPECTS OF THE MAP OUT OF WHACK?

>> AND WHILE WE STILL HAVE THE CONGRESSIONAL MAPS THAT ARE STILL OUT THERE, THE COURT HAS REJECTED THE FIRST ATTEMPT THERE.

BUT THAT'S DRAWN BY THE LEGISLATURE, NOT BY THE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION.

AND THEY HAVE A LITTLE MORE TIME.

ANY MOVEMENT ON THAT IN THE PAST WEEK?

>> WELL, THOSE ARE DUE, I THINK THE DEADLINE IS MID FEBRUARY, AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE LAWMAKERS ARE GOING TO LAWMAKE THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 7th.

THE THING IS, THAT THEY'RE GOING TO NEED 66 VOTES FOR THIS CONGRESSIONAL MAP, IN ORDER TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY CLAUSE SO THAT THE MAP CAN TAKE IMMEDIATE EFFECT AND CLEAR THESE, THE PRIMARY SCHEDULE.

SO YOU KNOW, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE IT'S GOING TO GET KICKED FROM THE HELMS LATER BACK TO THE OHIO REDISTRICTING COMMISSION WILL WILL THEN HAVE ANOTHER 30 DAYS TO COME UP WITH THE MAP.

>> THAT'S THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS.

WELL, THE MARIO CAR, AND THE MAJORITY POSITION IN THE DECISION, IT WASN'T IMPORTANT, IT WASN'T THE DECIDING FACTOR SO THERE IS A RECENT PRECEDENT THERE THAT WILL BE THE CASE.

IN THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP THAT MEANS FROM 12 REPUBLICAN SEATS TO THREE DEMOCRATIC SEATS TO REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE UP THREE OR FOUR SEATS TO DEMOCRATS.

DO YOU SEE THAT IN ANY WAY HAPPENING, THE LEGISLATURE DOING THAT?

>> NO, I DON'T.

AND HERE'S THE PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THIS.

THE NEW AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, DETAILING HOW WE DRAW THE STATE AND CONGRESSIONAL LINES, THEY DON'T GIVE THE OHIO SUPREME COURT THE ABILITY TO DRAW MAPS.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

SO WE CAN KEEP GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH MAPS, AND IT WILL BE ELECTION DAY IN NOVEMBER.

SO THAT'S THE OTHER THING, AND I KNOW OWE CONER IS TOTALLY AWARE OF THAT BECAUSE SHE MENTIONED THAT IN THE ORIGINAL ARGUMENT, THIS BACK AND FORTH OF TURNING THE MAPS TO THE COURT AND THE COURT TURNING IT DOWN CAN GO FROM NOW TO DOOMSDAY AND WE GOT TO HAVE AN END TO THIS SO IT WILL BE UP TO HER HOW WE GET TO THAT END, BUT SHE CAN'T DRAW THE END.

>> ARE DEMOCRATS ASKING FOR TOO MUCH?

THE STATE IS DEFINITELY PINK NOW.

IT LEANS RED FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA ONE YEAR BUT IT IS THE LAST TIME WE'VE HAD ANY SUCCESS STATEWIDE ON THE POLITICAL SIDE, JENNIFER BRUINER WON STATEWIDE IN THE SUPREME COURT, BUT IS THIS THE WAY, DO DEMOCRATS HAVE WHAT THEY CAN GET AT THIS POINT AND HOPE TO WIN IN FOUR YEARS?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I MEAN THE BOTTOM LINE SO MUCH TIME IS WASTED OVER THE SUMMER.

THEY HAD A YEAR TO HAVE HEARINGS ON THIS IN THE STATE, TO TRADE MAPS BACK AND FORTH, AND EVERYBODY WAITED UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

AND SO NOW, HERE WE ARE.

WHERE THE SUPREME COURT HAS SET THESE MAPS BACK TO THE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION, BECAUSE IT WAS A RUSH JOB, AND NOW, WE HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT IN TIME.

THIS IS A MESS.

AND PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW, CANDIDATES DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE RUNNING BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE LINES.

THEY GOT TO GET SIGNATURES FOR THE BALLOTS.

IT'S JUST A MESS.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.

>> GOVERNOR DEWINE ON FRIDAY DID SIGN INTO LAW THE BILL, THE LAW THAT MAKES, TO GIVE MORE LENIENCY TO CANDIDATES TO TRY TO COLLECT SIGNATURES DURING THIS PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY.

WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES.

>>> BATTLES OVER DISTRICT MAPS, THE OHIO PRIMARY VOTERS WILL GO TO THE POLLS IN ABOUT THREE MONTHS.

90 DAYS, THAT'S ALL CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR HAVE, TO CONVINCE THEIR PARTIES THEY ARE THE PERSON WHO CAN WIN IN NOVEMBER.

A COMMISSION BY THE MAN WHALEY CAMPAIGN HAS THE FORMER DAYTON MAYOR WINNING BY 13 POINTS.

HALF OF THE DEMOCRATS IN THAT POLL REMAIN UNDECIDED.

JIM RENATHE'S CAMPAIGN ON THE GOP SIGN IS TOUTING AN INTERNAL POLL SHOWS HIM LEADING MIKE DEWINE BY 8 POINTS, BUT THAT POLL INCLUDES LEANERS, UNCERTAIN VOTERS LEANING TOWARD ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, AND THE POLL CONVENIENTLY LEFT OUT THE THIRD GOP CANDIDATE, JOE BLYTHESTONE WHO WOULD LIKELY TAKE SUPPORT AWAY FROM RENACEY TO THE REPUBLICAN SIDE FIRST, A LOT OF FLAWS IN THAT POLL BUT DOES IT TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT THE MOOD OF THE REPUBLICAN VOTER WITH THREE MONTHS TO GO?

>> NO, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THAT POLL, AND IF YOU LOOK AT, AND LIKE YOU POINTED OUT, THE MAIN PROBLEM WITH THE POLL IS IT LEAVES OFF ONE WHOLE CANDIDATE, JOE BLYTHESTONE.

AND I'LL TELL YOU, IF YOU'RE GOING AROUND THE STATE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MORE JOE BLYTHESTONE YARD SIGNS.

IT'S NOT LIKE HE DIDN'T HAVE LIST SUPPORTERS.

HE DOES.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THAT POLL, AND AS FLAWED AS IT IS, THE ONE ASPECT THAT STRUCK ME, THE PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO VOTE FOR DEWINE AND THE PEOPLE WHO SAID THEY ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO VOTE FOR RENACENY, IT IS A 22, TO 22 DEWINE, AND TWO POINT DIFFERENCE AND THAT TELLS YOU OVER HALF OF THE PEOPLE ARE NOT REALLY SURE WHO THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR IN THAT PRIMARY.

SO WE'VE GOT A LONG WAYS TO GO ON THAT.

AND I THINK JIM RENACEY JUST PRODUCED A POLL THAT HE STRUCTURED IN SUCH A WAY THAT WOULD MAKE HIM LOOK IN THE BEST POSSIBLE LOOK.

>> IT ALWAYS TENDS TO FAVOR THE CANDIDATE WHO LEAKS THE POLL AND HURTS THE OTHER SIDE.

>> AND JIM RENACEY THIS PAST WEEK, I HATE TO USE THE TERM DOUBLING DOWN, OVERUSED BUT DOUBLING DOWN ON THE FALSE CLAIM THAT THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN, IN 2020, AND CHEATING DONALD TRUMP OUT OF A SECOND TERM, AND HE'S PROMISING TO DO ELECTION REFORM HERE IN OHIO, EVEN THOUGH THE ELECTION WENT FINE.

HOW DOES THAT -- DOES THAT HELP HIM IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS, DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE BASE IS INTERESTED IN.

I THINK THIS IS, THAT IS A MESSAGE THAT GETS A LOT OF TRACTION WITH THE HARD CORE PRIMARY VOTERS AND THAT'S WHY HE IS SAYING IT.

ESSENTIALLY.

>> COULD COME BACK TO HAUNT HIM IN THE GENERAL SHOULD HE ADVANCE.

>> AND THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, 50% UNDECIDED.

DOES THAT SURPRISE YOU?

AND DOES THAT GIVE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY PAUSE TO NOT ENDORSE A CANDIDATE BEFORE THE PRIMARY?

>> IT DOESN'T GIVE ME PAUSE, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT PEOPLE GOT OTHER THINGS ON THEIR MIND RIGHT NOW, AND IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, IT'S NOT ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TWO VERY WELL-KNOWN CANDIDATES ON THE MAYOR OF DAYTON, AND THE FORMER MAYOR OF CINCINNATI, AND YOU KNOW, THE POLLS SHOW THAT FORMER MAYOR WHALEY IS LEADING RIGHT NOW, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'RE A LONG WAYS AWAY FROM THE PRIMARY.

AND THINGS COULD DEFINITELY CHANGE.

ONE THING I WILL SAY THOUGH IS THE GOP BETTER HOPE THAT GOVERNOR DEWINE GETS PAST THE PRIMARY, BECAUSE IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE, THEN I THINK WE'RE DEFINITELY LOOKING AT A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR.

I DON'T THINK THAT, I DON'T THINK RENACEY OR ANY OTHER PERSON ON THIS GOP SIDE, OTHER THAN DEWINE, CAN GET THE FOLKS WHO ARE RUNNING ON OUR SIDE A RUN FOR THE MONEY.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH VALUE IT IS BUT SHOULD THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY STAY OUT OF THIS ENDORSEMENT, THE FIGHT, UNTIL AFTER THE VOTERS HAVE A SAY IN MAY?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, NOW, THIS IS JUST ME PERSONALLY, IF YOU ARE GOING TO ENDORSE ONE RACE, YOU HAVE TO ENDORSE IN ALL OF THE RACES.

BUT YOU KNOW, AGAIN, YOU GOT TWO VERY POPULAR MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAT ARE RUNNING IN A PRIMARY, AND IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE DECISIONS AS A PARTY, WHY ARE WE A PARTY?

>> ON THE GOP SIDE, THERE ARE QUESTIONS WHETHER THE STATE PARTY SHOULD ENDORSE THEIR SITTING GOVERNOR, WHICH IS USUALLY, YOU KNOW, STANDARD PROCEDURE, BUT NOW THERE'S CALLS NOT TO ENDORSE MIKE DEWINE, AND STAY NEUTRAL WITH JIM RENACEY AND MR. BLYTHESTONE.

>> YEAH, I MEAN IT IS OUT OF THE ORDINARY NOT TO ENDORSE AN INCUMBENT, BUT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE FAIRLY VISIBLE THAT DON'T WANT TO HAVE AN ENDORSEMENT.

I THINK THE PARTY PROBABLY WILL ENDORSE.

I THINK IT IS A DIFFERENT SITUATION THAN WHAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE.

THE DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE AN INCUMBENT, SO YOU CAN MAYBE UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DON'T WANT TO JUMP INTO THAT, BUT WHEN DO YOU HAVE AN INCUMBENT, YEAH, I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY YOU WOULDN'T ENDORSE THAT INCUMBENT.

>> AND MIKE DEWINE AND HIS SUPPORTERS NOT TAKING ANYTHING FOR GRANTED, THEY CAME OUT THIS WEEK SAYING THEY WILL SPEND A LOT OF MONEY, THE SORT OF MONEY GROUPS, SUPPORT GROUPS ON ADS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, THEY'RE NOT TAKING JIM RENACEY OR JOE BLYTHESTONE FOR GRANTED.

>> IT IS TOO LATE TO RUN EVEN UNOPPOSED OR SCARED OR FALL OUT AND I THINK THE GOVERNOR RECOGNIZES THAT IS AN ADAGE THAT SHOULD BE ADHERED TO.

AND I WOULD NOTE THAT ON MONDAY, IT IS THE FILING DEADLINE FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS, AND SO THAT WILL GIVE US A GLIMPSE OF HOW MUCH MONEY RENACEY AND DEWINE ARE PUTTING INTO THE RACE THEMSELVES AND HOW THEY'RE FUND RAISING STRENGTHS OR WEAKNESSES ARE SHOWING UP.

>> SOMETHING TO WATCH FOR ON MONDAY.

THE LAST TOPIC, OMICRON IS STARTING TO SUBSIDE IN SOME PARTS OF OHIO BUT NOT IN OTHERS.

NORTHEAST OHIO HAS SEEN A CLEAR SHARP DECLINE IN COVID CASES.

CASES ARE STARTING TO COME DOWN HERE IN CENTRAL OHIO.

BUT OMICRON REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT THREAT IN SOUTHERN AND WESTERN OHIO.

OFFICIALS HOPE OHIO SEES THE SHARP OMICRON DECLINES OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD HAVE SEEN, BUT EVEN THEN, THEY SAY WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS.

>> EVEN WHEN OMICRON DOES FINALLY PEAK IN ALL PARTS OF OHIO, IT HAS AFFECTED US AT A MUCH GREATER LEVEL THIS TIME THAN LAST SUMMER.

THE NUMBERS ARE HIGH IN ALL PARTS OF OHIO, INCREDIBLY HIGH.

>> THE STATE CONTINUES TO SEE ON AVERAGE AT LEAST 15,000 OR SO NEW CASES PER DAY.

HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE DIPPED TO ABOUT 5,000.

FROM A PEAK OF 6700.

EARLIER THIS MONTH.

SO SIGNS OF GOOD NEWS.

YOU CAN TRACK COVID IN OHIO BY TRACKING THE NATIONAL GUARD.

THEY HAVE MOVED FROM CLEVELAND, SOUTH TOWARDS CINCINNATI.

>> THERE'S ABOUT 2,000 OHIO NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS WHO ARE STILL DEPLOYED TO HELP OUT THE OVERWHELMED AREAS, AND THEY ARE SHIFTING TO THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE RIGHT NOW.

>> STATE OFFICIALS ARE OPTIMISTIC, THIS IS THE DECLINE THAT IS GOING TO STAY?

>> WELL, I MEAN THAT'S WHAT DR. VANDERHOF WAS SAYING, AND YOU KNOW, I DO THINK THAT EVEN THOUGH WE'RE SEEING 15,000 CASES A DAY, I WOULD SAY THAT'S A HUGE UNDERCOUNT, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TESTING AT HOME, WITH THE LITTLE KITS AT HOME AND NOT NECESSARILY REPORTING THAT INFORMATION TO THE STATE.

BUT WE ALSO SAW A CHANGE IN GUIDANCE FOR K-12 THIS WEEK.

THEY'RE ADVISED NOT TO DO UNIVERSAL CONTACT TRACING ANYMORE, AND THEY WILL BE ASKED TO REPORT THEIR CASES TO THE STATE WEEKLY, RATHER THAN DAILY.

>> THEY'RE ALSO CONSIDERING MOVING THE TEST KITS THAT THEY WERE SENDING TO SCHOOLS, AND PUTTING THEM BACK INTO LIBRARIES AND PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO GET IT OUT TO MORE PEOPLE.

AGAIN, TO TRY TO KEEP UP WITH THE CHANGING NATURE OF THIS VIRUS.

>>> WE'RE AT ABOUT 1600 CASES PER 100,000 POPULATION RIGHT NOW.

REMEMBER WAY BACK WHEN, GOVERNOR DEWINE'S GOAL WAS 50 CASES PER 100,000 PEOPLE.

ARE WE EVER GOING TO GET BACK TO THAT LEVEL AGAIN?

>> NOT IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

BUT YOU KNOW, THANK GOD THIS LATEST VARIANT THAT WE HAVE IS ONE THAT IS, WHILE IT'S HIGHLY, YOU KNOW, IT SPREADS VERY EASILY, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE QUITE AS DESTRUCTIVE WITHIN INDIVIDUALS.

SO THEY'RE NOT GETTING AS SICK.

YOU'RE GETTING A LOT OF ASYMPTOMATIC CASES.

SO YOU KNOW, WHILE THERE'S A LOT OF CASES THAT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE WE HAVE ANYWHERE NEAR THE HOSPITALIZATIONS THAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY THINK WITH THAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE TESTING POSITIVE.

>> THE KEY TO STAYING OUT OF THE HOSPITAL IS THE VACCINE.

RIGHT NOW, OHIO, 57% OF ITS TOTAL POPULATION IS VACCINATED.

WE RANK 34th AMONG THE 50 STATES.

DERRICK CLAY, HAVE WE REACHED THE PEAK ON VACCINES?

ALL OF THE PEEK WHO ARE GOING TO GET VACCINATED ARE VACCINATED AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT ARE GOING TO STAY UNVACCINATED, DO YOU THINK?

>> I HOPE WE HAVE NOT MET THAT PEAK.

IF EVERYBODY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN VACCINATED, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS AS FREQUENTLY AS WE HAVE BEEN HAVING THEM.

YOU KNOW, WE KNEW THE VARIANTS WERE COMING.

AS SOON AS COVID WAS WIDESPREAD TO THE PUBLIC, WE HAD THE DELTA VARIANT.

AND WE KNEW THAT OTHER VARIANTS WERE GOING TO COME.

AND THEY'LL PROBABLY BE ANOTHER AFTER OMICRON.

SO IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE TAKE SOME SELF RESPONSIBILITY, VACCINATE THEMSELVES, WEAR MASKS WHEN INDOORS, AND TRY TO BEAT THIS THING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IT IS TIME NOW FOR OUR FINAL OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOTS AND WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> WELL, MIKE, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT REDISTRICTING, REAPPORTIONMENT, AND THE ONE THING THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT OUR ELECTIONS EVEN MORE, I THINK, IS THE FACT THAT IF WE DO START PASSING MAPS, AT THE STATE LEGISLATIVE AND CONGRESSIONAL LINES THAT ARE ONLY FOUR YEARS, THEY'RE ONLY GOOD FOR FOUR YEARS, THEN THE OHIO SUPREME COURT RACES BOTH THIS YEAR AND IN 2024 BECOME THAT MUCH MORE IMPORTANT BECAUSE WITHIN, BETWEEN 2025, 2026, WE WILL HAVE SOME NEW SET OF MAPS GOING BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT.

>> DERRICK CLAY, YOU'RE UP NEXT.

>> WELL, THE SKYSCRAPER OUT THERE, THE TOWER, THE TALLEST BUILDING IN COLUMBUS, COMPLETED RENOVATION AND CAME IN $5 MILLION UNDER BUDGET, WHICH IS UNHEARD OF.

>> NATE?

>> BACK UP TO THE HISTORIC TAX CREDITS AS WELL, RIGHT?

>> YOUR FINAL THOUGHTS?

>> YEAH, KIND OF BUILDING OFF OUR DISCUSSION OF VACCINATION RATES COMING UP ON MONDAY, MY COLLEAGUES TAKE A LOOK AT THE RISE OF THE ANTI-VACCINE MOVEMENT IN OHIO.

IT WILL BE A GOOD READ.

CHECK IT OUT.

>> PARTNERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM THERE, THE FAR LEFT WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN, OR TRADITIONALLY NOT OPPOSED TO VACCINES AND THEN THE OPPOSITE.

AND THEN WE HAVE A POLITICAL PODCAST, WITH WOSU PUBLIC MEDIA, A LOOK AT WEEKLY POLITIC, AND A SHREWD RUTHLESS POLITICIAN, AND SWEET FRAN DEWINE THIS WEEK, SHE MADE THE EGGS BENEDICT, ACCORDING TO THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH WITH FRIED GREEN TOMATOES WHICH MAY HAVE SEALED THE DEAL WHEN THEY HOSTED INTEL EXECUTIVES AT THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION.

CHECK OUT THAT PODCAST AT OUR WEB SITE WOSU.ORG, AND CHECK OUT THIS SHOW AT WOSU.ORG/COTR.

AND WE'RE ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER, NO TIKTOK YET, BUT YOU KNOW, MAYBE.

FOR OUR CREW I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.