>>> THE SENATE CANDIDATES AGREED TO DEBATE ON GETTING PEOPLE TO LIVE DOWNTOWN.

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

AFTER WEEKS OF INDECISION, POLITICAL JOCKEYING, AND NEGOTIATIONS BEHIND THE SCENES, OHIO'S TWO CANDIDATES FOR U.S. SENATE HAVE AGREED DEBATE TWICE IN OCTOBER.

REPUBLICAN J.D.

VANCE AND DEMOCRAT TIM RYAN WILL DEBATE IN CLEVELAND AND YOUNGSTOWN.

THE CLEVELAND DEBATE IS SET FOR PLANS ARE FOR THIS DEBATE TO AIR ON STATIONS IN CLEVELAND, DAYTON AND COLUMBUS.

THE YOUNGSTOWN DEBATE WILL HAPPEN A WEEK LATER ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 17TH.

ALSO IN THE EVENING.

IT'S SPONSORED BY WFMJ TV, AND IT WILL BE AIRED LOCALLY.

JESSIE BALMERT, BOTH OF THESE DEBATES, WHAT DOES THAT SAY?

>> THIS IS INTERESTING BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY TIM RYAN'S BACKYARD ALMOST AND THIS AREA THAT HE REPRESENTS IN CONGRESS RIGHT NOW, SO I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED THAT THEY DIDN'T AGREE TO A DEBATE IN SOUTHWEST OHIO WHERE J.D.

VANCE HAS BEEN LIVING RECENTLY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A -- GOING TO BE TELEVISED ACROSS THE STATE, SO PEOPLE CAN LISTEN IN REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY ARE LIVING.

>> I PREDICTED ONE DEBATE WOULD BE IN YOUNGSTOWN BECAUSE THAT DOES APPEAR TO BE GROUND ZERO IN THIS CAMPAIGN.

>> I THINK IT IS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE CANDIDATES, THEY BOTH LOOK AT THE AREA THEY NEED TO WIN.

THESE ARE AREAS THAT THE DEMOCRATS USED TO WIN HISTORICALLY BUT HAVE SINCE FLIPPED FOR DONALD TRUMP IN 2016 AND 2020, AND REPUBLICANS THINK IF THEY CAN WIN THAT AREA THAT THEY CAN MAYBE TAKE AWAY THE WHOLE STATE, SO REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS, TIM RYAN, J.D.

VANCE, THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE FIGHTING FOR THAT AREA.

>> THE POLL IS SIMILAR TO THE ONES WE HAVE BEEN SEEING THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

IT SHOWS TIM RYAN WITH A LEAD.

THIS IS GOOD NEWS FOR TIM RYAN.

DOES HE HAVE ANY HOPES OF PULLING AWAY BEFORE ELECTION DAY?

>> I THOUGHT BEFORE MIDTERM, IF HE'S CLOSE, HE'S IN THE RACE.

I NEVER THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE A DOUBLE-DIGIT SPREAD IF ANYTHING.

I HAVE TO SAY TO YOU.

I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH CONFIDENCE IN MR. RYAN'S CAMPAIGN INITIALLY BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT WAS STRUCTURED, GOING AFTER THE RIGHT WING.

I HAVE TO GIVE HIM RESPECT NOW BECAUSE HE'S AT LEAST COMPETITIVE, AND I ALSO THINK HE'S DONE SOMETHING THAT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY IS LOOKING AT.

HOW DOES A DEMOCRAT RUN IN A RUBY RED STATE?

AND HE'S GIVEN THEM A BOOK ON HOW YOU DO THAT.

NOW, IN THE END, HOW SUCCESSFUL HE WILL BE, I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE CLOSE.

MY OTHER CONCERN TOO WAS I DIDN'T SEE MUCH BLACK REPRESENTATION, AND THERE WERE QUESTIONS ALL ACROSS THE STATE AND PARTICULARLY IN THE COLUMBUS COMMUNITY.

I HAVE BEEN ASSURED BY PEOPLE UP THERE THAT HE'S GOOD AND HE'S TALKABLE.

>> WE'LL GET TO THAT IN A MOMENT.

I WANT TO GET TO BOB, THOUGH.

ON THE TIGHTNESS OF THE RACE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE CUTOUTS, THE DEMOS AND THE GENDER, TIM RYAN DOES MUCH BETTER AMONG INDEPENDENTS AND WOMEN.

IS THAT CONCERNING FOR REPUBLICANS?

>> IT'S TYPICAL.

REPUBLICANS DO WELL WITH MANY MEN.

DEMOCRATS DO BETTER WITH WOMEN.

INDEPENDENTS, THAT'S -- THAT IS AN ISSUE.

IN A LOT OF THE POLLING THAT'S BEEN DONE IN OTHER STATES AND EVEN HERE IN OHIO, INDEPENDENTS HAVE BEEN TENDING MORE REPUBLICAN THAN DEMOCRAT, AND A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN WASHINGTON.

BUT, YEAH, THAT'S AN ISSUE.

I FOUND IT INTERESTING, THOUGH, THAT THEY'RE DOING THESE DEBATES IN NORTHEAST OHIO BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST LIKE J.D.

VANCE IS KEEPING TIM RYAN UP AWAY FROM THE REST OF THE STATE.

BECAUSE HE REALLY ISN'T THAT KNOW OUTSIDE OF NORTHEAST OHIO.

J.D.

IS EVEN LESS KNOWN.

FOR HIM TO GO INTO CLEVELAND AND YOUNGSTOWN, IT'S ACTUALLY VERY HELPFUL FOR HIM, BUT IT KIND OF HURTS TIM RYAN TO BE STUCK UP THERE.

>> RYAN HAS A 20 POINT LEAD OVER J.D.

VANCE IN OHIO.

BUT STILL, THAT'S DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY TRADITIONALLY.

>> YEAH.

T NOT REINVENTING THE WHEEL TO SAY YOU NEED TO WIN CLEVELAND IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A SHOT AS A DEMOCRAT IN THE STATE OF OHIO.

IT'S AN AREA WHERE THEY NEED TO IP CREASE TURNOUT, GET THEIR PEOPLE TO HIT THE POLLS.

TO BOB'S POINT, YOU GOT TO GET THE REST OF THE STATE AS WELL.

>> THESE NUMBERS DO OFFER A LITTLE WINDOW INTO HOW THE VOTERS ARE THINKING.

YOU TALKED ABOUT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN VOTE, IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT POLL, TIM RYAN WINS THE AFRICAN AMERICAN, THE BLACK VOTE BY I THINK 85%.

BUT IF THEY ASK HIM, DO YOU HAVE A FAVORABLE OPINION OF TIM RYAN, THE BLACK VOTERS SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIM.

HOW DO THOSE TWO THINGS SQUARE?

>> THEY SQUARE QUITE WELL BECAUSE HE'S IN THE NORTHEAST AND IF YOU DON'T TRAVEL AROUND THE STATE OR YOU'RE NOT INVOLVED WITH POLITICS, YOU WOULDN'T KNOW WHO TIM RYAN IS.

BUT THE WAY HE CASTS HIS IMAGE, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH AFRICAN AMERICAN PRESIDENTS, AND THE ISSUES THAT HE WAS PUSHING FOR DIDN'T RESONATE WITH AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE.

THEY DO, BUT NOT SPECIFICALLY.

SO PEOPLE IN CONVERSATIONS AND PEOPLE HAVE A TENDENCY TO WANT TO CALL ME AND ASK ME MY OPINION.

AND I -- I HAVE SOME FRIENDS UP THERE, AND I TALK TO THEM, AND I SAY, HE'S WORKABLE.

WE CAN WORK WITH HIM.

HE'S GOING TO NEED THAT VOTE BECAUSE -- HE NEEDS A GOOD BLACK TURNOUT.

HE REALLY DOES.

>> SO THIS CAME UP.

I FOLLOWED TIM RYAN ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL ONE DAY, AND HE ENDED IN DAYTON AND HAD A TOWN HALL WITH BLACK VOTERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S SOMETHING HE HEARD A LOT ABOUT.

HE THOUGHT HE WAS RUNNING MORE FORWARDS THE RIGHT AND NOT TALKING TOWARDS THE ISSUES THEY WANTED TO HEAR HIM TALKING ABOUT.

THERE ARE SOME THAT DIDN'T KNOW WHO HE WAS.

THEY WERE LEARNING WHO HE WAS, SOMEBODY THAT REPRESENTS A RURAL AREA.

AND THERE WAS ALSO THIS SENTIMENT CONVEYED AMONG THOSE WHO DID KNOW HIM WHO SAID, YOU'RE RUNNING TO THE RIGHT, BUT THAT MAKES THE LIBERAL VOTERS FEEL ABANDONED.

>> YOUR LATEST TV SPOT TALKS ABOUT HOW YOU VOTED WITH TRUMP ON THESE ISSUES, MY GOD, SAM, IS HE A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN?

IF I'M WATCHING TV, I'M THINKING, YEAH, THAT'S THE REPUBLICAN.

>> YOUR GAME IS WORKING, MAN.

>> THE PROBLEM WITH THAT GAME IS POLITICS IS SO POLARIZED NOW THAT -- TRUST ME -- HE'S NOT GOING TO TRICK ANY TRUMP SUPPORTERS TO VOTE FOR HIM.

>> CAN I TELL YOU.

THE TRUMP BASE IS BECOMING SHAKY, AND IF PEOPLE -- >> TELL TIM RYAN THAT BECAUSE THAT'S ALL HE SEEMS TO BE FOCUSED ON.

>> HE'S DOING WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO.

IF HE GETS 10% OF THAT -- AND GOD KNOWS IF HE GETS MORE THAN THAT, HE'LL RUN AWAY WITH THIS RACE.

>> WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IF HE'S ELECTED?

BE CAREFUL BECAUSE ONE THING ABOUT TIM RYAN, HE WANTS TO STAY IN OFFICE.

SO IF HE SEES A VOTE COMING DOWN THE ROAD THAT MIGHT HURT HIM -- >> YOU NEED TO REMEMBER, IT'S SIX YEARS.

>> IT'S A LONG TIME.

>> IT'S A LONG TIME, AND IT'S A LONG CALENDAR.

I'M NOT GOING TO GET NERVOUS.

ALL I WANT TO DO IS CUT A DEAL.

I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE, AND THIS IS THE SLICE I'M LOOKING FOR.

>> THAT'S FOR SURE.

HE'S PROVEN THAT.

>> JESSIE, HE DOESN'T NEED TO GO FOR THE DIE HARD TRUMP SUPPORTERS.

HE'S LOOKING FOR THE FOLKS WHO VOTED FOR BARACK OBAMA IN 2008 AND 2012 AND THEN VOTED FOR TRUMP IN 2016 AND 2020.

>> CORRECT.

>> I THINK TIM RYAN IS GOING FOR WHATEVER VOTES HE CAN PICK UP HERE.

I'M SURE J.D.

VANCE WILL COME OUT AND MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR HE WAS THE CANDIDATE ENDORSED BY DONALD TRUMP.

>> MIKE DeWINE CONTINUES TO IGNORE CALLS FOR HIM TO DEBATE NAN WHALEY.

HERE'S THE REASON WHY, THE NEWS POLL HAS THE GOVERNOR UP BY 23 POINTS.

WHALEY CONTINUES TO OPPOSE HIM FOR HIS ACTION ON GUN CONTROL, THE NUCLEAR BAILOUT, BUT IT'S NOT HAVING AN IMPACT ON THE POLLS.

HE'S NOT ONLY IGNORING CALLS TO DEBATE WHALEY.

HE'S IGNORING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

NOT CRITICIZING HADAR THAT I'VE SEEN.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE FOR A REPUBLICAN OFFICIAL NOT TO ENGAGE IN A DEBATE.

HE'S RUNNING IN THIS FRONT RUNNER'S RACE WHERE IF YOU'RE FAR ENOUGH AHEAD, THE BEST STRATEGY IS TO IGNORE ALL TOGETHER AND NOT SEEM LIKE YOU'RE CAMPAIGNING ALL THAT MUCH, AND ANYTHING HE DOES AT THIS POINT COULD ONLY END UP HURTING HIM.

ENTERING A DEBATE MIGHT END UP HURTING HIM, SO HE'S GOING WITH THIS STRATEGY OF JUST IGNORING EVERYTHING ALL TOGETHER.

>> EDITORIAL BOARDS, NEWS PAPERS HAVE BEEN HAMMERING MIKE DeWINE FOR NOT AGREEING TO DEBATE.

DOES THAT MATTER?

WILL THAT CHANGE HIS MIND?

>> NO.

IT'S INSIDER STUFF THAT THE NORMAL TYPICAL VOTER DOESN'T GET INTO.

I THINK THE BIG NUMBER HERE IS HE'S PROBABLY KNOWN BY 97% OF THE VOTERS IN OHIO.

NAN WHALEY MUCH LESS WELL KNOWN.

YOU SEE WITH THE SENATE DEBATE, YOU HAVE TWO GUYS WHO ARE BASICALLY UNKNOWN TO LARGE SECTIONS OF THE STATE.

THAT'S WHY THEY JUMP IN THESE DEBATES.

THEY GOT TO GET MORE EXPOSURE.

MIKE DeWINE DOESN'T NEED ANY MORE EXPOSURE.

>> YOU LOOK AT ALL THE QUESTIONS HE WOULD BE ASKED AT THE DEBATE, ABORTION, GUN CONTROL, TALK ABOUT YOUR SUCCESS WITH COVID, THE FIRST MONTH OF THE COVID PANDEMIC.

HE DOESN'T WANT TO ANSWER ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS I'LL BET.

>> MIKE DeWINE HASN'T TALKED THAT MUCH ABOUT ABORTION SINCE ROE V WADE WAS OVERTURNED WITH THE DOBBS DECISION THIS SUMMER.

HE HAD A SPEECH THAT CAME OUT THAT SAID WE SHOULD ALL BE CALM AND CIVIL ABOUT THIS BUT HASN'T BEEN ANSWERING MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

YOU KNOW, TO YOUR POINT, NAN WHALEY WAS THERE FOR THE MASS SHOOTING, AND THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING SHE WOULD BRING UP IN THE DEBATE.

SO YEAH, THESE TOPICS THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT, NO, I THINK HE WOULD RATHER FOCUS ON INTEL AND JOB CREATION EFFORTS.

THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN HIS ADS.

>> IT BRIDGES UP COVID, SAM, HE ANGERS REPUBLICANS WHO DIDN'T LIKE HIS SHUTDOWN.

>> I DID TOO.

AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS AMAZING.

THEY WANTED TO CUT HIS THROAT ON HIM TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT COVID.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO NAN.

SHE HAD A GOOD OPPORTUNITY IF SHE HAD WRAPPED HERSELF IN THE RIGHT ISSUES.

I ALSO THINK IT'S AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE PEOPLE YOU PUT AROUND YOU AND HOW THEY THINK.

I THINK OUR YOUNG SENATOR CANDIDATE WAS WILLING TO TAKE A RISK.

NAN WAS SO CONSERVATIVE ABOUT THE ISSUES, SHE DIDN'T WANT TO APPEAR TO TAKE A RISK.

I MEAN, WITH THE WHOLE DOBBS ISSUE, SHE SHOULD HAVE POUNDED THAT 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR, BUT SHE DIDN'T.

SHE TALKED ABOUT HER FAMILY.

SHE TALKED ABOUT HAVING SOMEBODY IN THE GOVERNOR'S SEAT LIKE HER.

I THINK THERE WERE MORE ISSUES THAT SHE COULD HAVE USED THAT COULD HAVE HELPED HER IN A CAMPAIGN.

>> NOW, THE QUESTION THAT OFTEN COMES UP IS THE ECONOMY IS MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE TO VOTERS THIS CYCLE, AND IT IS.

BUT IN THE POLLS IN 2018 AND 2022, SAME CYCLE OF MIDTERM ELECTION, THE ECONOMY WAS NUMBER ONE IN BOTH ELECTIONS.

LITTLE MORE IMPORTANT THIS TIME AROUND.

BUT ABORTION, IF YOU LOOK AT THAT, IN 2018, ABORTION WAS LISTED BY THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE BY 4% OF THE PEOPLE.

NOW IT'S 14%.

IS THAT CONCERNING FOR REPUBLICANS?

>> NO.

BECAUSE THERE'S ALSO PEOPLE THAT ARE PRO-LIFE THAT FALL INTO THAT PERCENTAGE.

I FOUND IT INTERESTING THAT TIM RYAN DOESN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT ABORTION.

NOTHING IN HIS -- IT'S SO WEIRD TO WATCH A NAN WHALEY AD RECENTLY BECAUSE SHE'S JUMPED IN ON THAT.

I MEAN, SHE'S TRYING TO USE IT.

TIM RYAN SEEMS TO BE RUNNING AWAY FROM IT.

HE DID FLIP ON THE ISSUE.

HE USED TO BE PRO-LIFE, NOW HE'S PRO-CHOICE UP TO BIRTH.

AND MAYBE THAT'S WHY HE DOESN'T WANT TO USE IT.

BUT I MEAN, IF YOU THINK IT'S A GOOD STRATEGY, YOU SHOULD LET THEM KNOW BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.

>> THE OTHER ISSUE IN THE TWO POLLS THAT COULD GO BOTH WAYS, BOTH THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT.

IN 2018, THREATS TO DEMOCRACY WAS NOT EVEN LISTED.

THIS YEAR, IT'S 21% THE ISSUE.

>> IT'S THE SAME THING LIKE BOB JUST SAID.

IT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK AND WHAT THEIR OPINION IS.

THEY ASKED THE OHIO DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR ABOUT THIS AND SAID, LISTEN, IF PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE THREAT TO DEMOCRACY, YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THOSE WORRIED ABOUT THE INSURRECTION, STORMING THE CAPITOL, BUT IT COULD GO BACK TO PEOPLE BELIEVING THE BIG LIE AND THAT ELECTIONS ARE RIGGED, WHICH IT'S NOT, BUT PEOPLE COULD BE ANSWERING THAT WAY TOO.

>> IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE ECONOMY.

THAT'S A GUY WHO COINED THAT CARGO FROM THAT -- BUT IT'S NOT.

IT'S ABOUT WHO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH MOVING FORWARD IN THIS COUNTRY.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

THEY ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THOSE ECONOMIC ISSUES.

I MEAN, BARACK OBAMA WAS ON THE EDGE OF OBLIVION IN HIS FIRST CAMPAIGN BECAUSE THE ECONOMY WAS DEAD.

THAT BECAME AN ISSUE.

BUT IT'S NOT.

IT'S ABOUT WHO DO I FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH MOVING FORWARD.

>> WHO DO YOU BLAME IF THINGS ARE GOING POORLY.

>> TO A DEGREE.

NOT TOTALLY.

THEY DIDN'T BLAME THE REPUBLICANS THAT MUCH IN BARACK'S FIRST TERM BECAUSE BUSH WAS THERE, AND THEY KIND OF GLOSSED OVER THAT IT WAS A REPUBLICAN PROBLEM.

IT WAS A PROBLEM OF THE ECONOMY.

THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AS WE KNOW, HO HO'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL CONGRESSIONAL MAP GIVES REPUBLICAN AN ADVANTAGE IN MOST DISTRICTS AND DEMOCRATS ADVANTAGE IN A COUPLE OF DISTRICTS.

THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES HERE IN OHIO SEEM UNCOMPETITIVE RATED AS LIKELY TO WIN.

BUT IN TOLLETO AND CINCINNATI, THE RACES ARE CLOSER.

IN CINCINNATI, THAT DISTRICT HAS BECOME LESS SAFE FOR REPUBLICANS.

IN NORTH WEST OHIO, THE SO-CALLED SNAKE BY THE LAKE DISTRICT IS GONE.

SHE FACES A REPUBLICAN.

HE'S A FAR-RIGHT CANDIDATE.

HE WAS AMONG THE PROTESTORS ON JANUARY 6th, AND IT'S COME OUT IN RECENT WEEKS THAT HE HAS EMBELLISHED HIS MILITARY RECORD.

BOB, LET'S GO TO THE DISTRICT IN CINCINNATI, DISTRICT ONE.

HOW CONCERNED ARE REPUBLICANS THERE AFTER ALL THESE MAP-MAKING THAT REPUBLICANS COULD ACTUALLY LOSE A SEAT?

>> IT'S A REALLY CLOSE DISTRICT.

YOU KNOW, PARTY WISE, I THINK IT'S MAYBE SLIGHTLY DEMOCRAT.

STEVE CHABOT HAS BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME.

IT INCLUDES ALL OF WARREN COUNTY IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

IT'S GOING TO BE A MATTER OF TURNOUT.

I SEE AT THIS POINT WHERE THE TURNOUT DOWN THERE IS PROBABLY GOING TO HELP STEVE CHABOT SURVIVE THAT RACE.

>> STEVE IS -- I'M NOT SURE ON THIS STRUCTURE.

AND IT'S OVERALL EFFECT, BUT I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER, IT'S ONLY GOOD FOR ONE YEAR NOW.

SO THIS NEXT MAP WE'RE COMING UP WITH IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT.

ALSO -- WELL, WE GOING TO HAVE A DIFFERENCE -- >> I THINK IT WILL BE MORE REPUBLICAN.

LET'S JUST SEE.

>> I THINK THAT THE SUPREME COURT TURNOUT IN THE VOTE WHO GETS ELECTED IS GOING TO BE A VERY IMPORTANT THING.

I'LL FIND SOME WAY TO SLAP REPUBLICANS ON THEIR HANDS FOR 5 GRAND A WEEK UNTIL YOU GET THAT MAP RIGHT?

I THINK WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> CINCINNATI, HOW MUCH ARE THE FOLKS THINKING DOWN THERE ABOUT A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER UNSEATING A CONGRESS PERSON?

>> SO IT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE BECAUSE OF THE RULES TWB CITY OF CINCINNATI HAD TO BE COMPLETELY INCLUDED IN THIS DISTRICT.

PREVIOUSLY, THEY HAVE BEEN SPLIT UP BETWEEN CHABOT'S DISTRICT.

SO KEEPING THE CITY TOGETHER HELPS DEMOCRATS.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS YOU COULD HAVE DRAWN THIS DISTRICT.

REPUBLICANS WANTS TO KEEP WARREN COUNTY WITH IT TO OFFSET SOME OF THE DEMOCRATIC VOTES IN CINCINNATI.

WHAT YOU HAVE NOW IS A VERY COMPETITIVE DISTRICT, AND IT IS LEANING A LITTLE BIT TO THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

BUT STEVE CHABOT, VERY WELL-KNOWN, HAS BEEN REPRESENTING THAT AREA FOR A LONG TIME.

I THINK GREGG LANDSMAN HAS BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME.

>> THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN LEANING ON THE FACT THAT HE'S AN ENCOUPLE BAPT AND THIS COULD BE A RED WAVE WHEN A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE WINS THE RACE.

>> AFTER PAINTING DONALD TRUMP ON HIS FRONT LAWN, HE WINS THE PRIMARY.

REPUBLICANS WERE IMMEDIATELY WORRIED, AND NOW THOSE FEARS ARE COMING TRUE.

>> I WAS NEVER A BIG BELIEVER IN THAT RACE.

I'M FROM TOLEDO.

IN FACT, I MOVED OUT OF TOLEDO TO COME DOWN HERE WHEN MERCY FIRST STARTED IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

SHE'S REALLY POPULAR UP THERE.

I DIDN'T THINK THEY HAD MUCH OF A SHOT TO BEGIN WITH.

I THINK THE CANDIDATE WAS PROBLEMATIC.

IT WAS WEIRD HOW THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE YOU HAD TWO MAIN STREAM CANDIDATES IN THE PRIMARY RUNNING WHO PRETTY MUCH ATTACKED EACH OTHER, STATE SENATOR/STATE REPUBLICAN.

AND THAT ALLOWED HIM TO RUN UP THE MIDDLE AND GET THE NOMINATION.

>> WE GET TO OUR LAST TOPIC.

FORMER MAYOR MICHAEL COLEMAN HAS LONG WANTED PEOPLE TO LIVE IN DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS.

BACK IN 2002, THE THEN-MAYOR SET A GOAL OF 10,000 DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS.

WE MADE IT, BUT IT TOOK 20 YEARS.

NOW THAT COLEMAN IS CHAIRMAN OF THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, HE HAS SET A NEW GOAL, 40,000 DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS BY 2040.

AND HE DOES NOT WANT JUST EXPENSIVE CONDOS AND APARTMENTS.

HE HOPES FOR A RANGE OF HOMES AFFORDABLE TO ALL.

SAM, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS EFFORT, THIS BIG PUSH TO GET PEOPLE TO LIVE DOWNTOWN?

>> I THINK IN THIS COMMUNITY, THAT'S A HARD IF YOU'RE A FAMILY TO TELL ME TO LIVE DOWNTOWN.

IF I HAVE TWO KIDS, I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD WANT THAT.

I DON'T SEE COLUMBUS AS A HORIZONTAL COMMUNITY.

IT'S A VERTICAL COMMUNITY.

TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO DO THAT IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT.

I ALSO THINK SOMETHING ELSE.

PEOPLE WANT DENSITY, BUT PEOPLE DON'T WANT DENSITY.

THEY DON'T.

YEAH.

YEAH.

BUT THEY DON'T WANT ALL THAT.

>> HOW ABOUT THIS.

THEY WANT THE DENSITY DOWNTOWN, NOT IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

IS THAT A STRATEGY?

>> WELL, IT'S A STRATEGY TO THE EXTENT THAT ALL THE ELECTED POLITICIANS ARE RUNNING THAT WE NEED APARTMENTS BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL THIS DEVELOPMENT COMING INTO THE CITY.

THERE'S A PROJECT WHERE THEY'RE TRYING TO STICK 100 MILLION APARTMENTS IN THIS AREA, AND IT SHOULD BE -- >> THAT'S A LOT OF APARTMENTS.

>> AND IT SHOULD BE SINGLE FAMILY OWNED.

AND THE REACTION IS THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT DENSITY.

APARTMENT LIVING IN OHIO AND PARTICULARLY COLUMBUS IS NOT REALLY VERY POPULAR.

PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN APARTMENTS.

>> I ALSO TALKED TO SOMEBODY WHO'S TRYING TO PREPARE FOR THE BOOM OF THE THREE EMPLOYEES, AND THEY'RE SAYING THAT SOME OF THE CITY'S EXISTING CODE STANDS IN THE WAY TOO THAT DOESN'T ALLOW NEW DUE PLEKS TO BE BUILT AS WELL.

SO THOSE ARE KIND OF HARDER TO BUILD DOWNTOWN.

>> THE CITY IS TRYING AS PART OF THE NEW STRATEGY, THEY'RE REDOING HOW THEY DO TAXES TO ALLOW FOR THE HUNDRED MILLION APARTMENT COMPLEX IN GERMAN VILLAGE.

>> THE STUPID PART ABOUT THAT IS THEY DRIVE ALL THE HIGH QUALITY CUSTOM HOMES TO THE SUBURBS.

THEY DON'T BUILD THAT IN THE CITY OF COLUMBUS BECAUSE OF THIS RUSH TO GET DENSITY.

WHAT THEY'RE ASKING US TO DO IS THROW OURSELVES AND BECOME THE LAMB, AND OUR SUBURBS WREAK THE HIGH INCOME HOMES AND HIGHER TAX QUALITY TOO.

>> IT'S EXPENSIVE TO BUILD DOWNTOWN.

YOU HAVE TO BUILD UP.

IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE THAN JUST CLEAR A FARM FIELD.

IS THIS ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE, DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK TO MAKE IT THAT ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO WHAT'S GOING ON IN MY OLD BUILDING.

I USED TO BE IN THE PNC BUILDING DOWNTOWN PRE-COVID.

NOW IT'S BEING CONVERTED BECAUSE THERE AREN'T THAT MANY WORKERS DOWNTOWN NEW MEXICO.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE ALL THESE OFFICE BUILDINGS AND CONVERT THEM INTO SOME KIND OF RESIDENTIAL.

EVEN THEN, YOU'RE RIGHT, NO FAMILIES.

YOU'RE GOING TO GET PEOPLE ON THE YOUNGER END, THE SINGLE, OR THE EMPTY NESTERS.

THAT MIDDLE PORTION WITH KIDS AND EVERYTHING, IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

>> JESSIE, A PART OF THIS PLAN IS 120,000 ADDITIONAL WORKERS DOWNTOWN.

COVID HAS TAUGHT US WE DON'T HAVE TO BE IN AN OFFICE BUILDING.

IS THAT REALISTIC?

>> YEAH.

I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING.

YOU SEE WAY FEW PEOPLE THAN BEFORE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HIT.

I THINK PEOPLE LIKE THE FLEXIBILITY OF BEING ABLE TO PICK UP THEIR KIDS BEFORE SCHOOL OR DROP THEM OFF.

SO IT'S A HARDER SELL.

I THINK THERE ARE SOME OTHER THINGS YOU WOULD NEED TO CHANGE.

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF GROCERY STORES CLOSE TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF LIFE IN CERTAIN PARTS DOWNTOWN AFTER THE BUSINESS DAY ENDS.

>> 20,000 UNITS IN LYNDON OR IN THE HILLTOP?

>> I'M CLOSE.

>> WHAT ABOUT REHAB UNITS?

>> STILL WOULDN'T WORK.

I'VE ALWAYS ASKED -- MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS BUT MY DEGREE IS IN URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING, AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A QUESTION.

AND THE THROW AWAY HAS BEEN ON NEIGHBORHOODS THAT PEOPLE DON'T CARE ABOUT.

THEY CAN PUT THE DENSITY OVER THERE, BUT THIS THING CALLED NIMBY, NOT IN MY BACKYARD.

THEY DON'T WANT ALL THIS STUFF.

THEY THROW IT INTO A PLACE LIKE LYNDON OR IN THE SOUTH END BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT IT.

THEY KNOW WHAT IT MEANS.

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

SAM, YOU'RE UP FIRST.

>> I THINK THE INITIATIVE OF RYAN'S CAMPAIGN IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING HOW THAT ENDS UP AFFECTING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> AND BOB.

>> ALREADY IT'S BEEN REPORTED THIS WEEK THAT 6.4 BILLION HAS BEEN SPENT ON POLITICAL ADS, IT WILL BE OVER 9 BILLION WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE.

>> 10,000 UTILITY WORKERS WERE SENT TO FLORIDA ALL TO HELP BRING PEOPLE BACK ONLINE FROM THE HURRICANE IAN, AND NOW THEY'RE HEADING TOWARDS NORTH CAROLINA TO HELP WITH WHATEVER HAPPENS NEXT.

>> AND JESSIE.

>> SENATE CANDIDATE J.D.

VANCE WAS ASKED A CRITICAL QUESTION WHETHER HE PREFERS GOLD STAR OR SKYLINE CHILLY.

PERHAPS THIS CAN BE ANSWERED IN THE DEBATE.

>> I HEARD THE REPORTER GOT IN TROUBLE FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION FROM THE VANCE CAMPAIGN.

POLLS OUT THIS WEEK SHOW THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT BIG FANS OF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

THE U.S. SUPREME COURT BEGINS A NEW TERM NEXT WEEK.

MAYBE A WAY TO GET BACK IN THE GOOD GRACES TO SHOW HOW THE COURT OPERATES WOULD BE TO ALLOW CAMERAS IN THE U.S. SUPREME COURT AND FEDERAL COURT.

MAYBE THAT WOULD HELP THEIR APPROVAL RATING.

ANYWAY, WE ARE HOSTING WITH CAMERAS A SPECIAL LIVE COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14.

JOIN ME AND OUR PANEL AS WE DISCUSS THE HOME STRETCH OF THE 2022 CAMPAIGN AND WHAT THIS CRUCIAL ELECTION WILL MEAN FOR OHIO AND THE NATION ALL IN FRONT OF A LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE.

ENJOY A Q&A SESSION AFTER THE PROGRAM.

BUY TICKETS.

I HEAR THEY'RE GOING QUICKLY.

THAT IS JOIN US ON THE RECORD THIS WEEK.

CHECK US OUT ONLINE OR WATCH US ANY TIME ON THE PBS VIDEO APP.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.