>>> J.D.

VANCE GETS THE NOD.

>>> WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD."

IN THE END FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WENT WITH THE MILLENNIAL, THE CELEBRITY, THE ONCE NEVER TRUMPER, THE CONVERT, THE LOYAL DEFENDER AND THE GUY WITH WORKING CLASS MIDWESTERN ROOTS.

>> NEVER IN MY WILDEST IMAGINATION COULD I HAVE BELIEVED THAT I'D BE STANDING HERE TONIGHT.

I GREW UP IN MIDDLETOWN, OHIO.

A SMALL TOWN WHERE PEOPLE SPOKE THEIR MINDS, BUILT WITH THEIR HANDS, AND LOVED THEIR GOD, THEIR FAMILY, THEIR COMMUNITY, AND THEIR COUNTRY WITH THEIR WHOLE HEARTS.

BUT IT WAS ALSO A PLACE THAT HAD BEEN CAST ASIDE AND FORGOTTEN BY AMERICA'S RULING CLASS IN WASHINGTON.

WHEN I WAS IN THE FOURTH GRADE, A CAREER POLITICIAN BY THE NAME OF JOE BIDEN SUPPORTED NAFTA, A BAD TRADE DEAL THAT SENT COUNTLESS GOOD JOBS TO MEXICO.

>> SENATOR J.D.

VANCE WITH JUST ONE ELECTION TO HIS NAME AND LESS THAN TWO YEARS IN THE SENATE NOW CARRIES THE BURDEN OF HELPING TRUMP WIN A SECOND TERM AND POSSIBLY SERVING AS THE NATION'S VICE PRESIDENT.

GENE KREBS, WHAT DOES J.D.

VANCE AND HIS SELECTION MEAN FOR THE TICKET, AND WHAT WOULD IT MEAN FOR A SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION?

>> SEVERAL THINGS.

ONE, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHATTER ABOUT HIS INEXPERIENCE.

HOW MUCH EXPERIENCE DID BARACK OBAMA HAVE WHEN HE RAN FOR PRESIDENT?

>> ABOUT THE SAME.

>> ABOUT THE SAME, LET'S BE REALISTIC ABOUT IT.

AND HE WAS GOING TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT, NOT VICE PRESIDENT WHERE YOU GET TO LEARN ON THE JOB.

IT MEANS A LOT FOR THE PARTY.

THIS IS THE FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT OF REPUBLICANS.

THE WHIG PORTION THE HAL BURTON, THAT PART IS GONE FROM INFLUENCE, THEY HAVE NO MORE INFLUENCE IN THE PARTY, AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO END UP BECAUSE THIS IS NOW A POPULIST PARTY.

AND I THINK THAT -- AND J.D.

VANCE IS POLICY-WISE THE MOST ALIGNED WITH BOTH TRUMP AND ALSO TRUMP JR. WITH WHOM HE'S VERY GOOD FRIENDS, AND THEY ACTUALLY SHARE A LOT OF PHYSICAL RESEMBLANCE.

>> BRIAN, WHAT ARE HIS STRENGTHS, WHAT ARE HIS VULNERABILITIES AS FAR AS BEING A DEMOCRAT RUNNING AGAINST HIM.

>> WELL, HE LIVES OFF OF HIS BILLY ELEGY, BUT HIS NEXT IS GOING TO BE OFF OF HEDGE FUND ELEGY.

BECAUSE HE HAD THAT BACKGROUND HIS POLICIES ARE MORE IN LINE WITH THAT.

THEY'RE IN LINE WITH THE 2025 PLAN, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, A NATIONAL ABORTION BAN, CUTS TO SOCIAL SECURITY, GETTING RID OF WORKPLACE SAFETY ROLES AND ALL KIND OF OTHER ROLES.

THIS IS NOT HILLBILLY ELEGY PROTECTING WORKERS AND BLUE COLLAR FAMILIES.

THIS IS HEDGE FUND ELEGY.

>> SO IT'S BEEN LESS THAN TWO YEARS SINCE HE WAS IN THAT BRUISING PRIMARY.

LITTLE MORE THAN TWO YEARS SINCE THAT BRUISING PRIMARY, HE WON THANKS TO THAT TRUMP ENDORSEMENT.

WHAT ARE OHIOANS AND ELECTED LEADERS ALL SAYING, REPUBLICANS ANYWAY BEHIND J.D.

VANCE?

>> SURE.

I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF CELEBRATION BEHIND OHIO REPUBLICANS WHETHER THEY'RE SUPER POLITICALLY ALIGNED WITH HIM OR NOT ON POLICY BECAUSE YOU HEARD A LOT OF SENTIMENTS THAT OHIO'S BACK IN THE CONVERSATION WHEN IT COMES TO THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

FOR A LONG TIME YOU DIDN'T WIN THE WHITE HOUSE WITHOUT WINNING OHIO.

THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE CASE ANYMORE.

OBVIOUSLY, FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WON THIS STATE ALTHOUGH HE DID NOT WIN THE WHITE HOUSE IN THE LAST ELECTION.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE WAS JUST A LOT OF GENERAL EXCITEMENT FROM OHIO REPUBLICANS SENTIMENT-WISE.

>> DOES J.D.

VANCE BASICALLY CAMPAIGN IN THREE STATES, MAYBE FOUR, WISCONSIN, MICHIGAN, AND PENNSYLVANIA?

>> HE WILL SPEAK WHEREVER THE APPALACHIAN DISPERSAL IS LOCATED.

AND NOW HOLD MY COFFEE AND WATCH ME PICK A FIGHT WITH BRIAN.

>> THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO ABOUT HALF THE KIDS ON MY SCHOOL BUS WERE EXACTLY LIKE J.D.

VANCE, OKAY?

THEY WERE RECENT APPALACHIAN IMMIGRANTS.

WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT, THE HATRED OF THE RULING ELITE, THE MAN AS THEY CALL IT IS A VISCERAL THING FOR THESE FOLKS.

>> YOU CAN HATE THE ELITE, BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT NAFTA LIKE THAT AND YET ALL THESE JOBS, WHICH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ACTUALLY PUSHED FOR NAFTA, ALL THESE JOBS KEEP GOING THERE.

USMC, FORD JUST ANNOUNCED THEY'RE MOVING JOBS TO CANADA.

I MEAN THIS IS A SMOKE SCREEN.

IT REALLY IS HEDGE FUND ELEGY.

>> BUT, I'LL GIVE YOU AN UNFORTUNATE BIT OF DATA.

88% OF ALL JOBS LOST IN AMERICA SINCE 1980 WAS DUE TO AUTOMATION, NOT DUE TO OUTSOURCING.

AND SO I WISH PEOPLE WOULD -- UNTIL YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING HERE AND STOP DEALING WITH THE PLATITUDES, YOU CAN'T BEGIN TO GET TO SOLUTIONS, AND YOU HAVE TO GET DOWN TO WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING ON.

IT'S AUTOMATION.

IT'S NOT OUTSOURCING.

>> WELL, THEY SURE ARE PAYING THOSE MEXICAN WORKERS TO MAKE THOSE CARS.

>> THAT'S FINE, BUT THAT'S ONLY 25%.

>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS J.D.

SAID NEVER IN MY WILDEST DREAMS DID I THINK I'D BE HERE TONIGHT.

HE'S BEEN WORKING AT THIS FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.

>> WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THE PSYCHOLOGY -- I'M HERE AS THE RURAL INTERPRETER FOR ALL THINGS RURAL FOR PBS OHIO.

THIS IS BEYOND BELIEF BECAUSE HILLBILLY WAS THE LAST GROUP IN AMERICA IT WAS OKAY TO MAKE FUN OF.

OKAY, YOU WATCH LATE NIGHT TV AND THEY ALWAYS JOKE ABOUT HILLBILLIES, NAFTA, ALL THE OTHER STUFF.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALWAYS PICKING ON HILLBILLIES.

SO FOR HIM, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE I KNOW.

THESE ARE MY NEIGHBORS, IN SOME CASES MY RELATIVES.

>> THAT'S ALL -- I KNOW IT'S PART OF HIS BACKGROUND AND HE'S FAIRLY YOUNG.

BUT HE WENT TO YALE.

>> RIGHT.

>> HE WENT TO SILICON VALLEY WHERE HE MADE A LOT OF MONEY IN SAN FRANCISCO.

THEN HE'S BEEN IN WASHINGTON CIRCLES FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

>> RIGHT.

AND HE ALSO HAD A MASSIVE PANIC ATTACK IN THIS BOOK HE RELATES TO WHEN HE WENT TO A DINNER AND WASN'T SURE ALL THESE FORKS WERE FOR AND WHICH ONE HE STARTS WITH.

BECAUSE THAT IS -- FOR HIS PEOPLE, HIS GROUP, WHO I KNOW QUITE WELL -- AND BY THE WAY, AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WRITERS OUT OF APPALACHIA WHO ATTACKED HIM.

I GO, LOOK, YOU KNOW HOW ONE PERSON'S STORY IS, YOU KNOW HOW ONE PERSON'S STORY IS.

BUT HIS STORY IS REMARKABLY SIMILAR -- >> I'M ALL FOR SOMEBODY EATING EVERYTHING WITH ONE FORK.

HOWEVER, IT'S WHEN YOU ALIGN YOURSELF AND WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU KNOW WHERE THOSE FORKS ARE, AND HE HAS ALIGNED HIMSELF WITH ELITES.

>> SORRY, YOU'RE A NATIVE OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND WORK HERE IN OHIO NOW.

DOES J.D.

VANCE, DOES HIS MESSAGE OF RURAL SMALL TOWN POPULISM RESONATE IN THE WESTERN HALF OF PENNSYLVANIA, WHICH WILL BE KEY TO WINNING THAT STATE?

>> I THINK IT'S A LITTLE EARLY TO SAY.

I THINK WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA IS SQUARELY APPALACHIAN, AND THERE HAVE BEEN QUESTIONS ABOUT MIDDLETOWN IS NOT TECHNICALLY PART OF THE APPALACHIAN REGION OF THE UNITED STATES.

NOW, HE HAS STRONG ROOTS IN KENTUCKY, TRADITIONALLY APPALACHIAN.

BUT I THINK WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA WHERE I GREW UP -- I MEAN I GREW UP IN BUTLER COUNTY WHERE FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WAS SHOT OVER THE WEEKEND, NOT FAR FROM THE FARM SHOW.

I COVERED THE FARM SHOW AS AN INTERN.

THOSE FOLKS IN THAT COUNTY ARE FOR TRUMP, AND I THINK IF HE'S GOT THE STAMP OF APPROVAL FROM TRUMP REGARDLESS OF HIS FORMER COMMENTS, THEY'LL GET BEHIND HIM, TOO.

>> WHAT ABOUT -- THIS IS TWO STEPS OR ONE STEP DOWN THE ROAD.

IF TRUMP WINS, VANCE BECOMES VP, WHO DOES MIKE DEWINE APPOINT AS THE SENATOR?

IS IT TOO EARLY TO START SPECULATING?

IS IT TOO EARLY TO START CAMPAIGNING FOR IT?

>> WHICH IS ALL POINTLESS.

IT'S ALL POINTLESS BECAUSE AT SOME POINT IN TIME TRUMP AND/OR J.D.

VANCE WILL ANNOUNCE WHO THEY PREFER, AND MIKE DEWINE CAN'T GO AGAINST THEM BECAUSE THAT PERSON WHOEVER THEY NAME WILL THEN PRIMARY WHOEVER MIKE APPOINTS.

>> ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

I THINK MIKE DEWINE IS GOING TO WANT HIM OUT OF THE WAY.

>> I MEAN, THESE FOLKS HAVE BEEN HERE LONGER THAN I HAVE AND THEY'VE SEEN THESE ENVIRONMENTS LONGER THAN I HAVE, BUT THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE LAST POLITICAL MOVES GOVERNOR DEWINE GETS TO MAKE BEFORE HIS RETIREMENT.

HIS WORDS MAY PLAY STRONGLY.

>> WE'LL GET TO THIS IF IT HAPPENS DOWN THE ROAD, AS WE GET CLOSER TO THAT.

ANYWAY, OVERSHADOWING THE CONVENTION WAS LAST WEEK'S ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

MOST OHIO LAWMAKERS REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT WERE QUICK TO CONDEMN THE VIOLENCE.

MOST STATEMENTS WERE SIMILAR TO THE ONE RELEASED BY SENATOR SHERROD BROWN WHO SAID THERE IS NO PLACE FOR POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN OUR DEMOCRACY.

AND CONY, HIS WIFE, AND I ARE GLAD PRESIDENT TRUMP IS SAFE.

HE ALSO CALLED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE INVESTIGATION.

OHIO'S OTHER U.S.

SENATOR NOW VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE J.D.

VANCE WAS LESS UNIFYING.

VANCE BLAMED PRESIDENT BIDEN SAY HG HIS CAMPAIGN'S CENTRAL PREMISE IS THAT TRUMP IS AN AUTHORITARIAN FASCIST AND MUST BE STOPPED AT ALL COSTS.

THAT RHETORIC LED DIRECTLY TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION, SAID J.D.

VANCE.

OF COURSE WE DON'T KNOW THE SHOOTER'S MOTIVE EVEN AT THIS DATE.

IN HIS FIRST SPEECH SINCE THE SHOOTING FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP TOOK A SOFTER TONE AND HE CALLED FOR NATIONAL UNITY.

>> THIS ELECTION SHOULD BE ABOUT THE ISSUES FACING OUR COUNTRY AND HOW TO MAKE AMERICA SUCCESSFUL, SAFE, FREE, AND GREAT AGAIN.

IN AN AGE WHEN OUR POLITICS TOO OFTEN DIVIDE US, NOW IS THE TIME TO REMEMBER THAT WE ARE ALL FELLOW CITIZENS.

WE ARE ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

>> SO DONALDSON, LOTS OF TALK OF UNITY AFTER THE SHOOTING.

THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH BEGAN, ANYWAY, WITH TALK OF UNITY.

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?

>> IT LASTED THROUGH THE CONVENTION.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER IN THE WEEK ON THE RADIO I THINK IT IS A BIG QUESTION OF HOW LONG IT LASTS BECAUSE IT'S STILL A PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, AND YOU CAN'T HAVE NECESSARILY UNITY WITH THE PARTY YOU'RE TRYING TO BEAT AND BEAT FOR THE WHITE HOUSE SO -- >> BRIAN, THE FIRST RESPONSE FROM LAWMAKERS IT WAS A PRETTY STANDARD, EXPECTED, AND WELCOME RESPONSE.

EVERYONE WAS PRETTY UNIFIED SAYING THIS IS NOT WHAT WE WANT TO BE DOING, SHOOTING OUR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES.

>> OF COURSE.

AND I DO THINK THERE IS A PLACE WHERE YOU CROSS A LINE WITH WORDS.

AND I THINK THAT INCREASINGLY IN RECENT POLITICAL YEARS THAT LINE HAS MOVED TODAY A PLACE THAT'S REALLY DANGEROUS AT TIMES.

HOWEVER, WHAT REALLY IS GLARING HERE IS THAT NOBODY COULD TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE THAT IS THE GLARING ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.

THERE WAS A GUN THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN IN THIS PERSON'S HANDS, BUT WE HAVE LOOSENED GUN LAWS IN THIS PLACE TO THE POINT YES, THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE SECRET SERVICE AND OTHERS, BUT THIS IS FUNDAMENTALLY ABOUT -- AND NO REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO WANT TO FACE IT.

AND I THINK THE DEMOCRATS WANTED TO STAY AWAY FROM IT BECAUSE OF ALL THE YELLING AND SCREAMING OVER GUNS THE WAY IT POLLS.

THIS IS REALLY ABOUT GUN CONTROL AND THE FACT THAT WE DON'T NEED THESE TYPES OF WEAPONS.

YOU DON'T NEED THAT TO KILL A DEER.

>> DOES THIS MAKE -- GENE, DOES THIS HELP DONALD TRUMP BECOME A MORE SYMPATHETIC FIGURE?

>> HISTORY PROVES SEVERAL THINGS ABOUT THIS.

ONE, HISTORY PROVES ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IMPACT.

IT'S SURPRISING.

I WAS STUNNED WHEN I LOOKED AT THE DATA.

THE OTHER THING IS THAT WE HAVE HAD ABOUT TWO DOZEN SINCE THE FOUNDING OF THIS COUNTRY TWO DOZEN LEGITIMATE SINCERE ATTEMPTS OF AN ASSASSINATION OF A PRESIDENT.

SOME SUCCESSFUL, SOME NOT.

THE UNITED KINGDOM HAS HAD ONE IN 1812.

THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH HOW OUR SYSTEM IS SETUP.

SO WE TALK ABOUT YOU WANTED TO PEEL THE ONION BACK, I'M GOING TO PEEL THE ONION BACK EVEN MORE.

WE'RE THE ONLY COUNTRY TO SETTLE THE ISSUE OF SLAVERY VIA A CIVIL WAR.

THAT'S IT.

WHY?

THERE'S SOMETHING WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DISAGREE AGREEABLY HERE.

THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG IN OUR SYSTEM.

>> I MEAN GOD FORBID WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THE ASSASSINATION WERE SUCCESSFUL?

WOULD THERE HAVE BEEN VIOLENCE IN THE PAST WEEK?

I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE.

>> I DO THINK BECAUSE OF THE WAY RHETORIC IS THERE COULD HAVE BEEN VIOLENCE.

YOU DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.

I DO THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DAMNING POINT OF OUR HISTORY.

YES, I STILL THINK THIS IS IN A WAY EVEN THOUGH IT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AND THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT DIED -- >> YES.

>> WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE.

>> VERY TRAGIC.

>> BUT I GOT TO SAY, LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT IS RHETORIC BUT IT'S ALSO OUR GUN POLICY.

IT'S ALSO THINGS LIKE HOW WE BUILDING AND BUILDING AND BUILDING TO THIS.

IT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6th, NOW IT'S HAPPENING NOW.

>> AND I DO THINK WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO IT PARTLY I MEAN IS THE 24-HOUR NEWS CYCLE.

THERE'S THIS CONSTANT WANT FOR INFORMATION RIGHT NOW, AND IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS, LAW ENFORCEMENT JUST DOESN'T HAVE THAT YET.

THEY DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS ABOUT THE MOTIVES.

YOU KNOW, IT'S TAKEN DAYS FOR THEM TO UNCOVER THAT THE GUNMAN HAD PHOTOS OF PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, THAT THERE'S A CHANCE THIS MAY HAVE JUST BEEN A SEVERELY MENTALLY ILL 20-YEAR-OLD WHO DIDN'T HAVE ANY POLITICAL MOTIVATION.

BUT THE JUMP -- THE TOTAL ACCESSIBILITY TO 24 HOUR NEWS CAN HAVE ITS FALLBACKS, AND I THINK THAT SOMETHING THAT PLAYS OUT AND ADDS TO THE TENSION AND UNEASINESS.

>> I DO THINK ONE OTHER THING THAT CAME OUT BEFORE THIS BEFORE HE NAMED THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE THAT WAS ON THE PART OF PEOPLE AROUND VANCE AND VANCE HIMSELF.

IF YOU'VE DONE COMMUNICATIONS FOR A LONG TIME WHEN YOU GET INTO A CRISIS SITUATION, YOU DON'T REACT LIKE THAT UNTIL YOU HAVE ALL THE FACTS.

IT DIDN'T BACKFIRE OR BLOW UP ON HIM LIKE IT COULD HAVE, BUT YOU DON'T DO THAT, AND HE'S GOING TO HAVE LEARN IN THIS NEW ROLE AS A CANDIDATE.

>> AS WE MENTIONED WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT JOHN HINGLY JR.'S MOTIVATION UNTIL MUCH AFTER HE SHOT RONALD REAGAN.

AND HE WAS MENTALLY ILL AND WANTED TO IMPRESS JODY FOSTER.

WHEN THE FBI SEARCHED HE HAD A MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER IN HIS PHONE.

MENTAL HEALTH LOOKS LIKE IT PLAYED A ROLE HERE.

GETTING TO THE UNIFYING REPUBLICAN CONVENTION TO PUT A BUTTON ON IT HERE, DID THE CONVENTION -- PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR TRUMP ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM.

DID IT MOVE THE FOLKS IN THE MIDDLE, THE MODERATE REPUBLICANS SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THIS GUY ANOTHER CHANCE.

>> THE QUESTION YOU'RE ASKING IS DID IT MAKE ANY NIKKI HALEY REPUBLICANS MOVE?

THAT, I HAVE NO IDEA.

I DON'T THINK SO, AND I THINK IT GOES TO THE MATTER THAT HE DID NICE WORDS BUT CAN HE NOW START TALKING ABOUT NICE ACTIONS?

AND THEY'LL -- IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT I DON'T KNOW UNTIL THEY BEGIN TO SEE HIM TALK ABOUT POLICIES IN A CONCRETE WAY THAT WOULD BRING HEALING.

>> IT WAS NO TALK, HARDLY ANY TALK ABOUT A RIGGED 2020 ELECTION IN THIS CONVENTION, SO DISCIPLINE HAS ENTERED THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN IN A WAY.

AS OF FRIDAY AFTERNOON JOE BIDEN REMAINS THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE, BUT CALLS FOR HIM TO STEP ASIDE CONTINUE TO GROW.

TOP DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS AND FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA HAVE REPORTEDLY URGED BIDEN TO WITHDRAW FROM THE RACE.

MONTANA SENATOR JOHN TESTER HAS ASKED BIDEN TO STEP ASIDE.

HE'S IN A TOUGH RE-ELECTION FIGHT IN A RED STATE, MUCH LIKE SHERROD BROWN IS HERE IN OHIO.

BUT SO FAR BROWN HAS SAID LITTLE ABOUT WHETHER HE THINKS JOE BIDEN SHOULD REMAIN IN THE RACE.

BRIAN ROTHENBERG, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THIS WEEK, BUT BY THIS TIME NEXT WEEK, NEXT FRIDAY DO YOU THINK JOE BIDEN IS THE NOMINEE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE?

>> FIRST OF ALL, LET'S WISH HIM WELL FROM COVID.

ALSO, LOOK, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN TERMS OF THAT.

BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS THIS IF DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO WIN AND THERE IS A PATH TO WIN AND ONE POLL HAD HIM AT 52-48.

BUT TRUMP DIDN'T GET A HUGE BUMP THAT YOU WOULD THINK OUT OF THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT.

IT'S NOT ABOUT AGE.

IT'S ABOUT MAGA RAGE IS WHAT THIS CAMPAIGN IS GOING TO BE ABOUT IF THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO WIN, AND THIS 2025 PLAN, WHICH WANTS TO -- AN EXTREME PLAN, GET RID OF ABORTION -- >> I HAD THIS QUESTION LAST WEEK.

IS JOE BIDEN THE BEST PERSON TO COUNTER THAT EFFORT?

>> IF -- FIRST OF ALL, ONCE THIS IS ESTABLISHED, IF HE CAN DO THAT AND RISE ABOVE THE AGE QUESTION AND MAKE THIS ABOUT MAGA RAGE AND NOT ABOUT AGE, AND NOBODY KNOWS THAT ANSWER.

BUT IN ORDER TO BEAT DONALD TRUMP, IT HAS TO BE ABOUT THAT.

>> UNLIKE FINE WINE, JOE BIDEN WILL NOT IMPROVE IN THREE YEARS.

I KNOW MANY PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 80, AND I SAW THE DEBATE WHERE HE DID HIS OPEN MOUTH STUFF, AND I'M GOING I KNOW PEOPLE LIKE HIM.

IT'S TRAGIC TO SEE.

HE'S NOT GOING TO GET ANY BETTER.

IT'S A DECLINE.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING OKAY MAY DON'T WANT TO TRUMP BUT MAYBE THEY DON'T WANT TO VOTE FOR BIDEN EITHER.

BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW IF HE MAY HAVE A MOMENT OF DEMENTIA IN OFFICE BEFORE THEY CAN IMPLEMENT THE ARTICLES OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.

IT'S A HOT MESS, AND IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO EXTRAICATE OURSELVES, BUT I GO BACK TO IT AIN'T GOING TO GET BETTER.

>> HERE'S A GUY VERY SIMILAR TO SHERROD BROWN IN A TOUGH RACE AND NEEDED TO TAKE A STAND, BUT SHERROD BROWN SO FAR HAS NOT.

WE CAN'T GET IN HIS HEAD, BUT HE'S BEING CAUTIOUS IN A WAY.

>> ABSOLUTE CAUTION, AND I IMAGINE THAT WILL PROBABLY AT LEAST CONTINUE FOR THE TIME BEING, ALTHOUGH REPRESENTATIVE LANDSMAN IN THE CINCINNATI AREA HE WAS, I THINK, ONE OF THE FIRST OHIO DEMOCRATS TO -- YEAH, SO THIS MORNING HE SAID THAT HE WANTS TO SEE BIDEN STEP ASIDE, SO I DON'T KNOW IF MORE FOLKS IN THE OHIO DELEGATION THAT ARE DEMOCRATS IF THEY'RE GOING TO COME OUT WITH STATEMENTS.

OBVIOUSLY REPRESENTATIVE LANDSMAN WAS THE FIRST ONE, BUT SENATOR BROWN HAS BEEN RELATIVELY QUIET ON THIS ISSUE, AND I THINK THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT HIS OPPONENT, BERNIE MORENO, THEY'VE TAKEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT HIS QUIETNESS ON BIDEN AND THE QUESTION OF EVEN THE APPROACH WITH HOW MUCH DOES HE CAMPAIGN WITH BIDEN BECAUSE THIS IS TRUMP THAT'S GOING TO GO FOR -- THIS IS STATE THAT'S GOING TO GO FOR TRUMP.

>> HE WAS NEVER GOING TO -- SO SHERROD BROWN HAS ALWAYS HAD HIS OWN BASE HERE, AND HE'S ALWAYS EVEN WITH DONALD TRUMP WHILE HE'S BEEN IN OFFICE BEEN ABLE TO APPEAL TO THOSE BLUE COLLAR WORKERS, SO IT WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A CASE OF NOT CAMPAIGNING REALLY WITH BIDEN AND WORKING AROUND IT.

AND SO I -- YOU KNOW, I THINK THE TRICK FOR HIM IS TO LET THIS PLAY OUT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS BECAUSE, FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING THAT NOBODY TALKS ABOUT IS BIDEN DIDN'T REALLY LOSE IN THE POLLS EITHER AND THAT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SO POLARIZED THAT DON'T LIKE TRUMP.

SO IT'S A DIFFICULT SITUATION WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE POLLS.

IT'S LIKE BIDEN'S NOT BLEEDING, HE DIDN'T GET THE BUMP HE NEEDED, WILL THIS COME BACK?

>> WHAT WILL SHERROD BROWN HAVE TO LOSE BY SAYING, YOU KNOW, I THINK JOE BIDEN SHOULD PASS THE TORCH TO A YOUNGER GENERATION?

>> I THINK THE PROBLEM THERE IS WHAT IF JOE BIDEN DOESN'T DROP OUT AND THEY -- WE'LL KNOW BY AUGUST 7th, I THINK, IS WHEN THEY'RE DOING THAT POLL.

>> THAT'S THE PLAN.

>> THE PLAN RIGHT NOW.

BUT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER THIS WILL BE DONE BY THE FIRST OR SECOND WEEK OF AUGUST, AND IT WILL BE ONTO CAMPAIGNING AGAINST MR. MORENO.

>> AND I THINK THE POLARIZATION -- I MEAN I'VE HEARD MORE THAN ONE DEMOCRAT IN MY LIFE SAY SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF EVEN IF JOE BIDEN WERE IN A COMA, I'D VOTE FOR HIM.

SO, I MEAN, THERE ARE REAL QUESTIONS FROM WHAT I'VE READ AND FROM WHAT FOLKS HAVE REPORTED ABOUT BIDEN'S VIABILITY AS A CANDIDATE AND AS THE SITTING PRESIDENT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, DO THOSE ALWAYS TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE AVERAGE VOTER'S THOUGHTS?

>> AND THE FOLKS IN THE MIDDLE.

AND OBVIOUSLY SOME ARE GOING TO VOTE THAT WAY NO MATTER WHAT.

WHO DO REPUBLICANS NOT WANT TO FACE OF THE NAMES WE'VE HEARD KAMALA HARRIS, GRETCHEN WHITMER, GAVIN NEWSOM?

>> PROBABLY GRETCHEN WHITMER.

VERY ARTICULATE.

SHE'S WON SEVERAL TIMES NOW IN WHAT WAS A PURPLE STATE.

SHE SLIPPED IT BLUE.

SHE'S GOOD AT FUND-RAISING.

GAVIN NEWSOM AND KAMALA HARRIS CAN'T SHAKE THE CALIFORNIA IMAGE.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST NO FAULT OF THEIRS.

IT'S JUST A STEREOTYPE.

OH, LOOK, THEY'RE FROM CALIFORNIA.

THEY'RE WHACKY.

NOT THEIR FAULT.

THEY CAN'T SHAKE IT.

AND SO IF THEY'RE SMART AND SENSIBLE THEY'LL GO WITH A MIDWESTERNER LIKE GRETCHEN WHITMER, BUT THEY WON'T BE.

>> IS KAMALA HARRIS THE OBVIOUS CHOICE?

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS THEY WORK THROUGH IT, SHE WOULD BE BECAUSE OF THE ABILITY TO MOVE THE MONEY AND SOME OF THOSE TYPE OF THINGS BUT DEFINITELY WELL AROUND THE TICKET WOULD MATTER.

I HAVE HEARD TALKS THERE COULD BE AN OPEN CONVENTION IF HE DECIDES TO DO THIS.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD BE INTERESTING THE OTHER THING ABOUT WHITMER I THINK THAT CARRIES OVER A LITTLE BIT IS JUST BECAUSE SHE'S EXPERIENCED WHAT HE DID -- NOT IN THE SAME WAY.

I MEAN THERE WAS AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON THE PRESIDENT, BUT IN HER CASE I MEAN PEOPLE WANTED TO KIDNAP HER.

>> IT WAS A PLOT.

>> I MEAN WE'RE GETTING WAY DOWN THE ROAD HERE BUT GRETCHEN WHITMER AND JOSH SHAPIRO, THE GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA, TWO SWING STATES.

SARAH?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK FOLKS IN PENNSYLVANIA HAVE BEEN EXCITED ABOUT JOSH SHAPIRO'S FUTURE POTENTIAL.

IF NOT A VSHLGS P SPOT THIS YEAR, IF BIDEN DOES STEP AWAY I THINK EVEN LAST WEEK WITH THE SHOOTING I SAW DAVE McCORMICK WHO'S RUNNING FOR SENATE AS A REPUBLICAN KIND OF GIVE A NOD TO JOSH SHAPIRO AND HIS LEADERSHIP.

AND THAT'S A REPUBLICAN SPEAKING HIGHLY OF A DEMOCRAT AND HIGHLY OF A DEMOCRATIC'S LEADERSHIP.

SO I COULD SEE JOSH ASHAPIRO.

>> A DEMOCRAT NOT IN THE NATIONAL TICKET THAT COULD BE KAMALA HARRIS, THEY COULD LOSE IN 2024, LOSE AND THEN HURT THEIR POSSIBLE CHANCES TO RUN IN 2028.

>> I DON'T THINK SO BECAUSE THEY'RE STEPPING INTO A BAD SITUATION, AND AS LONG AS THEY GET 35% OF THE VOTE -- YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

THEY GET ABOVE THAT, THEY GET ABOVE SOME FLOOR TO BE DETERMINED.

THEY RUN A GOOD CAMPAIGN, THEY'LL INCREASE THEIR ODDS IN 2024 -- 2028.

>> THE FACT OF THE NUMBER IS WHOEVER ACTUALLY INHERITS THIS IS INHERITING, YOU KNOW, 46, 47% OF AN ELECTORATE THAT IS LOCKED IN BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT VOTE FOR ANYBODY BUT THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT 3 TO 5% OF THE VOTE, AND CERTAIN STATES IF YOU WANT TO WIN.

>> GETTING BIG ENTHUSIASM FROM ALL THE -- >> THE ENTHUSIASM GAP CLOSING.

>> AND THAT WOULD BE TOUGH FOR THE BROKERED CONVENTION I WOULD GUESS.

>> I WOULD THINK THAT WOULD, YES.

>>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET TO OUR FINAL OFF-THE-RECORD PARTING SHOTS, SOME FINAL THOUGHTS, PREDICTIONS FOR -- GOOD LUCK TO US.

PREDICTIONS FOR THE WEEKS AHEAD.

BRIAN ROTHENBERG, YOU'RE UP FIRST.

>> I THINK THE MINIMUM WAGE CAMPAIGN MIGHT HAVE THE ACTUAL FINAL ULT OF SIGNATURES THEY NEED BY LABOR DAY IS WHAT I'M HEARING.

WE'LL SEE IF THEY KEEP COLLECTING BECAUSE THEY CAN, BUT IT PROBABLY WILL BE ON THE BALLOT NEXT YEAR.

>> SO NOT '24 BUT NOVEMBER OF '25 IF THEY GET THE SIGNATURES.

>> CORRECT.

>> AS THE BIBLE SAYS IRON SHARPENS IRON AND I'M A REPUBLICAN THAT WANTS TO SEE THE DEMOCRAT BE WHOLE AND COMPETENT BECAUSE IT MAKES BETTER, AND IN THAT VEIN YOUR PEOPLE HAD A HORRENDOUS WEEKEND WITH A CONVENTION THAT LED TO MUCH SHOUTING AND EVERYTHING OVER INCREASING THE ROLE OF THE RURAL COUNTIES AND GIVING THEM MORE OF A VOICE.

THE LAST DEMOCRAT YOU'VE HAD WHO I THOUGHT RAN GOOD RURAL COUNTY CAMPAIGNS WAS TED STRICKLAND WHO WON OVERWHELMINGLY IN '06 AND BY 10 ONLY LOST BY 1,000 VOTES.

>> THE BIG THING I LEARNED THIS WEEK WAS J.D.

VANCE'S LAW SCHOOL CLASS WAS KIND OF A WHO'S WHO IN POLITICS.

VIVEK RAMASWAMY WAS A LITTLE MORE STATEWIDE, BUT THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE WHO'S A DEMOCRAT, WHO'S BEEN EMBROILED IN PERSONAL CONTROVERSIES OVER THE LAST YEAR WAS ALSO AT LAW SCHOOL WITH J.D.

VANCE.

>> INTERESTING.

YOU KNOW WHAT WE NEED AFTER THE PAST WEEK, ACTUALLY PAST SIX MONTHS, FIVE YEARS, WE NEED MORE BEER.

WELL, WE CAN HELP WITH THAT.

WOES SUE'S POLITICS AND PINTS RETURNS.

WE'LL HOST ANOTHER EDITION THAT COMBINES POLITICS AND POLITICAL DISCUSSION WITH GOOD CRAFT BEER.

SO PLEASE JOIN ME AND ANNA STAVER.

WE AND A COUPLE OF STATE INSIDERS WILL DISCUSS THIS CAMPAIGN.

GO TO WOSU.ORG/EVENTS.

THAT WILL DO IT.

CHECK US OUR CREW ONLINE.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.