>>>ROB PORTMAN SAYS HE HAS HAD ENOUGH, AND TURNING A CORNER ON COVID.

[ MUSIC ] >>> JOINING US ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD," HERB ASHER, OSU POLITICAL SCIENTIST.

CARLEY ANN SMYTHE.

AND BOB CLEGG, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST.

>>> ROB PORTMAN IS NOT A U.S.

SENATOR KNOWN FOR MAKING WAVES.

HE MADE WAVES THIS WEEK WHEN HE SAID HE'S DONE.

HE'S DONE WITH THE U.S. SENATE, HE'S DONE WITH HYPERPARTISANSHIP.

HE SAYS MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO GOVERN.

>> OUR COUNTRY'S POLARIZED RIGHT NOW.

IT'S KIND OF SHIRTS AND SKIPS, ISN'T IT?

AND THAT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT TO FIND THAT COMMON GROUND.

BECAUSE ELECTED OFFICIALS AREN'T REWARDED FOR THAT.

WHAT THEY'RE REWARDED FOR IS THROWING OUT THE RED MEAT ON THE TALK SHOW.

AND THAT, YOU KNOW, ISN'T CONDUCIVE TO SOLVING THE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WE FACE AS A COUNTRY.

>> DESPITE THE POSSIBILITY OF FACING A PRIMARY CHALLENGE, PORTMAN WAS A CLEAR FAVORITE TO WIN A THIRD TERM IN THE SENATE.

AFTER FOUR YEARS OF DAILY QUESTIONS ABOUT DONALD TRUMP AND NOW BEING IN THE MINORITY IN THE SENATE, PORTMAN WILL RETURN TO OHIO AFTER THREE DECADES IN WASHINGTON.

JULIE CARR SMYTHE, WHEN YOU THINK OF INCUMBENTS WHO ARE UP FOR RE-ELECTION, THEY DECIDE NOT TO RUN, YOU THINK MAYBE THEY'RE WORRIED THEY COULD LOSE.

BUT PORTMAN WAS A FAVORITE TO GET RE-ELECTED.

>> I DON'T THINK IT WAS ABOUT THAT, I REALLY DON'T.

HE'S AN INCREDIBLE FUND-RAISER, AND ALSO HAS WALKED A LINE.

AS HE MENTIONED IN THAT SPEECH, HE'S A BIPARTISAN, HE WORKS FOR BIPARTISAN SOLUTIONS.

MANY PEOPLE WOULD FOLLOW HIM, I GUESS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, IN TERMS OF THAT STRATEGY.

THE FAR RIGHT WAS KIND OF UPSET WITH HIM FOR STATEMENTS HE MADE AGAINST THE PRESIDENT, AND THE LEFT WAS UPSET WITH HIM BECAUSE HE WASN'T STRIDENT ENOUGH ON THOSE ATTACKS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THAT PLAYS PRETTY WELL, AT LEAST IN THE OLD OHIO, IN THE OLD POST-INSURRECTION, POST, YOU KNOW -- THE POLITICS THAT EXISTED THAT WE'RE ALL TRYING TO RE-EVALUATE RIGHT NOW.

WHAT I THINK HIS ISSUE IS, HE JUST TURNED 65.

IT'S A SIX-YEAR TERM.

YOU KNOW, HE'S NOT UP FOR TWO YEARS, SO THAT GIVES SOME OTHER PEOPLE A WAY IN.

I THINK HE'S PROBABLY NOT RELISHING BEING IN THE MINORITY AND HAVING NO REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPACT.

>> YEAH.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT SENATORS, IT'S ODD THAT YOU LABEL A 65, 67-YEAR-OLD ONE OF THE YOUNGER MEMBERS.

NOT EVERYONE HAS TO SERVE UNTIL THEY'RE 90.

DO YOU BELIEVE ROB PORTMAN JUST SAID, I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE, I CAN'T HANDLE THE FAR RIGHT AND FAR LEFT ARGUMENTS?

>> YEAH, I CAN BELIEVE THAT HE THOUGHT THAT.

I MEAN, HE'S BEEN IN PUBLIC SERVICE FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS.

BUT HE'S NOT LIKE SHERROD BROWN WHERE HE RAN FOR OFFICE AT A REAL YOUNG AGE.

HE WORKED IN THE BUSH BE, FIRST BUSH WHITE HOUSE.

THEN WENT TO CONGRESS.

THEN LEFT CONGRESS TO WORK IN THE SECOND BUSH WHITE HOUSE.

SO, YOU KNOW, HE'S NOT ONE OF THESE DRIVEN POLITICIANS THAT NEEDS TO MAKE A LIVING BY HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICE.

SO NOW, IN A WAY, THIS DIDN'T SHOCK ME THAT MUCH.

I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED.

BUT NOT REALLY SHOCKED.

>> HE COMPLAINS ABOUT HYPERPARTISANSHIP, BUT HE'S BEEN THERE 30 YEARS.

HE COMPLAINS ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF POLITICS, HE'S PART OF THE CURRENT STATE OF POLITICS.

SHOULDN'T POLITICIANS LIKE HIM, CONSERVATIVE BUT MORE REASONABLE, FIGHT HARDER FOR HOW GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE RUN?

OR IS THAT NAIVE?

>> I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, AND ACTUALLY HIS DEPARTURE RAISES THE POSSIBILITY HIS REPLACEMENT WILL FURTHER OR WORSEN THE PROBLEM, DEPENDING WHO FINALLY GETS ELECTED.

AT THE VERY LEAST, SENATOR PORTMAN WAS A CALMING VOICE.

HE WAS A PERSON WHO WORKED PRETTY WELL, VERY WELL, WITH SHERROD BROWN, WAS NOT ONE OF THESE STRIDENT REPUBLICANS.

HE IS A CONSERVATIVE, BUT FOR CERTAIN REPUBLICANS HE'S NOT AS HARDLINE AS HE SHOULD BE, BUT HE'S ALSO GOTTEN AN AWFUL LOT OF CRITICISM, HERE FROM NEWSPAPERS, FROM TALK SHOWS, THAT HE HAS NOT BEEN TOUGH ENOUGH ON DONALD TRUMP.

AND HE GETS THAT AN AWFUL LOT.

AND I DON'T THINK HE'S QUITE USED TO THAT NOTION OF BEING CRITICIZED ON THINGS THAT ARE NOT REALLY POLICY.

IT'S REALLY SORT OF PERSONALITY, IT'S REALLY HOW STRONG IS HE, DOES HE HAVE THE BACKBONE TO STAND UP TO DONALD TRUMP?

AND I THINK THAT GOT TO BE VERY UNPLEASANT ALSO, AND I THINK HE DID STAND UP TO DONALD TRUMP MORE VOCIFEROUSLY, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN YULED AT BY HIS OWN PARTY.

IT'S NOT JUST THAT IT'S A HYPERPARTISAN, DEMOCRAT VERSUS REPUBLICAN.

I ASSUME IT'S NOT AS COMFORTABLE TODAY TO BE A REPUBLICAN IN THE CURRENT CONGRESS IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK YOUR MIND ON CERTAIN ISSUES.

SO I THINK THERE WAS A GENERAL DISCOMFORT WITH THE WHOLE GOVERNING PROCESS.

BUT I DON'T THINK HE HAS TO WORRY ABOUT BEING IN THE MINORITY FOR VERY LONG.

IT'S 50/50.

HE WOULD BE A RELEVANT VOICE IN A 50/50 CONGRESS.

AND LAST WEEK, YOU KNOW, CHUCK SCHUMER WAS ALMOST THE SHORTEST, THE LEAST TENURE AS MAJORITY LEADER WHEN THEY TOOK SENATOR LEAHY TO THE HOSPITAL.

SO I DON'T THINK IT'S SO MUCH BEING IN THE MINORITY.

PROBABLY PORTMAN WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE EFFECTIVE THAN A LOT OF REPUBLICANS IN WORKING FROM A MINORITY POSITION IN INFLUENCING THE MAJORITY.

BUT YES, HE'S MADE THE DECISION.

POLITICS AND GOVERNING IS NOT FUN FOR HIM ANYMORE.

>> YES, SENATE SEATS DO NOT COME OPEN VERY OFTEN.

WHEN THEY DO, IT'S EVERYBODY INTO THE POOL.

SO THE SPECULATION OR THE TRIAL BALLOONS, THEY'RE UP, NO LESS THAN A DOZEN RECOGNIZABLE POLITICIANS HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN RUNNING.

LET'S FIRST GO TO THE REPUBLICANS.

SITTING CONGRESSMAN BRAD RENSTRUN, TIM STIVERS, REPUBLICAN CHAIR TIM TAKIN, ATTORNEY GENERAL DAVE, SECRETARY OF STATE DAVE LaROSE, AUTHOR J.D.

VANCE.

CONGRESSMAN JIM JORDAN WANTS TO STAY IN THE HOUSE.

JIM JORDAN HAS -- IN THE LAST CYCLE, JIM JORDAN RAISED $18 MILLION, HE'S GOT $5 MILLION ON HAND IN HIS CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT, WELL KNOWN STATEWIDE.

SURPRISED HE DIDN'T GIVE IT A SHOT?

>> NO, NOT REALLY.

HE HAS HIS OWN BRAND HE'S CREATED IN THE HOUSE.

AS YOU SAY, HE'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AT IT WITH FUND-RAISING AND ALL OF THAT.

CONGRESSMEN CAN'T RUN FROM OFFER WHEN THEY RUN FOR THINGS LIKE THIS, SO HE'D BE PUTTING IT ALL ON THE LINE IF HE DECIDED TO RUN.

I THINK HE'S REALLY COMFORTABLE, WHAT HE'S DOING IN THE HOUSE, WHERE HE'S AT IN THE HOUSE, I THINK THAT WAS PROBABLY THE MAJOR FACTOR WHY HE DECIDED NOT TO GO.

>> I THINK THAT'S THE PROBLEM CONGRESSPEOPLE FACE, TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR, TO RUN FOR U.S. SENATE, YOU HAVE TO RISK YOUR OWN SEAT, WHICH MIGHT BE COMFORTABLE AT THE TIME.

>> RIGHT, YEAH.

WITH SOME OF THESE FOLKS IT'S A COMFORTABLE SEAT.

JIM JORDAN'S SEAT IS COMFORTABLE FOR HIM RIGHT NOW.

THERE WILL BE REDISTRICTING COMING.

THE WAY THE MAP IS KUSHTLY DRAWN, IT'S REALLY UNLOSABLE FOR HIM.

SO IT'S A LIFETIME SORT OF VISION THAT HE CAN HAVE.

HE'S A YOUNG MAN, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THAT'S DEFINITELY AN ISSUE.

NOW TIM BRYAN, I THINK THAT HE'S ALWAYS KIND OF ASPIRED TO SOME KIND OF HIGHER OFFICE.

WE HEAR HIS NAME ALMOST ALL THE TIME.

WE'VE HEARD HIM AS A POSSIBLE VP PICK AT TIMES OR MAYBE HE'S GOING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

AND SO IT SEEMS LIKE HE'S WILLING TO TAKE THAT RISK IN A WAY THAT JIM JORDAN REALLY WASN'T.

>> BOB CLEGG, WE'LL GET TO THE DEMOCRATS IN JUST A SECOND.

WHO DO YOU LIKE NOW?

JANE KIMKIN, SHE WON OHIO FOR MIKE DeWINE AS PARTY CHAIRWOMAN, SHE EXTENDED DONALD TRUMP'S MARGIN OF VICTORY IN OHIO THIS PAST NOVEMBER.

A LOT OF GOODWILL SHE'S DEVELOPED IN THE PARTY, I'M SURE.

IS SHE THE STRONGEST CANDIDATE ON THAT PRO-TRUMP SIDE RIGHT NOW?

>> I THINK, YES, SHE'D BE A VERY STRONG CANDIDATE.

BUT WE HAVE OTHERS THAT WOULD BE EQUALLY AS STRONG.

THAT LIST YOU JUST GAVE, SOME REALLY STRONG CANDIDATES, AND THAT'S OUR PROBLEM AS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HERE IN OHIO.

OUR BENCH IS JUST TOO DEEP WITH TOO MANY PEOPLE WITH NAME RECOGNITION THAT COULD RUN FOR THIS SEAT.

DEMOCRATS HAVE THE EXACT OPPOSITE PROBLEM, THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE THAT MANY PEOPLE ON THEIR BENCH AND WHAT ONES THEY HAVE DON'T HAVE NAME RECOGNITION STATEWIDE.

SO A LOT OF THE MONEY IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE SPENT EARLY ON JUST TO MAKE SURE THEIR CANDIDATE IS MORE KNOWN.

>> LET'S LOOK AT THOSE DEMOCRATS WHO MAY RUN.

CONGRESSMAN TIM RYAN, CONGRESSWOMAN JOIST BEATTY, DAYTON MAYOR NAN WHALEY IS RUNNING FOR SOMETHING, WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT, MAYBE SENATE.

FORMER CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE DANNY O'CONNOR SAYS HE IS CONSIDERING IT.

FORMER COLUMBUS MAYOR MICHAEL FORMER DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR DAVID PEPPER.

HOUSE MINORITY LEADER AMELIA STRONG SYKES.

THE BIGGEST SPECULATION SEEMS TO BE SURROUNDING FORMER OHIO STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR DR. AMIE ACTON.

HERB ASHER, IF ALL THOSE FOLKS RUN, WHO'S THE LEADER RIGHT NOW?

>> I THINK IF HE CHOSE TO RUN, AND HE WORKED HARD AT IT, AND HE TRAVELED AROUND THE STATE AND RAISED A LOT OF MONEY, MICHAEL COLEMAN COULD BE A VERY STRONG CANDIDATE.

I SAY THE SAME ABOUT JOYCE BEATTY, BUT SHE'S GOT TOO GOOD A LIFE, IN THE HOUSE, A SAFE SEAT, HEAD OF THE BLACK CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS.

THE REASON I MENTION HER NAME, IT SHOULD BE A WONDERFUL CROSSOVER CANDIDATE, APPEAL TO MULTIPLE CONSTITUENCIES I THINK VERY EFFECTIVELY, ONCE SHE WAS WELL KNOWN.

AS BOB SAID, THAT TAKES A LOT OF MONEY TO GET WELL KNOWN AROUND THE STATE.

SPEAKING ABOUT THE REPUBLICANS, I THINK ONE CANDIDATE TO TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY IS DAVID YOST, IN PART BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR STATEWIDE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS ARE REPUBLICAN.

THEY'RE ALL FAVORED RIGHT NOW TO WIN RE-ELECTION NEXT YEAR.

THAT MEANS WHEN THEY GET TO 2026, THEY'RE ALL TERM LIMITED.

SO THEY'RE ALL LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO.

AND I THINK YOST IS RECOGNIZING, AS SOMEBODY SAID EARLIER, A SENATE SEAT DOESN'T COME OPEN VERY OFTEN.

THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO RUN THE RISK, IF YOU WILL, AND GO FOR IT.

I THINK HE'S DECIDED HE'LL STICK WITH THE GUBERNATORIAL PATH, IF YOU WILL.

I THINK LaROSE MIGHT VERY WELL JUMP IN.

BUT AMONG THAT GROUP OF REPUBLICANS, I THINK YOST MIGHT BE THE STRONGEST.

>> DAVE YOST, IF MIKE DeWINE RUNS AND WINS RE-ELECTION, HE LIKELY WILL RUN, FAVORED TO WIN RE-ELECTION, JOHN HOUSTON WOULD BE HIS OBVIOUS SUCCESSOR WHEN HE IS TERM LIMITED, SO DAVE YOST WOULDN'T HAVE A SPOT TO RUN UP ON.

DR. AMIE ACTON WAS SPECULATED TO GO AGAINST PORTMAN IF HE SOUGHT RE-ELECTION.

IS THIS SERIOUS TALK OR IS THIS JUST A TRIAL BALLOON TO SEE IF SHE CAN GENERATE SOME EXCITEMENT, MAYBE RAISE SOME MONEY?

WHAT DO YOU THINK'S GOING ON?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S -- I DON'T THINK SHE NEEDS TO GENERATE EXCITEMENT IN THAT SENSE.

I THINK SHE'S WILDLY POPULAR IN THE POLLS THAT I'VE SEEN.

WELL KNOWN ACROSS THE STATE.

I MEAN, SHE WAS ON DAILY TV BROADCASTS FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS.

SHE HAS PROBABLY THE BEST NAME I.D.

OF ANYONE ON THAT LIST.

THE QUESTION, DOES SOMEONE WHO'S A COLLEGE PROFESSOR, EPIDEMIOLOGICAL EXPERT, WANT TO CHANGE PROFESSIONS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GAME?

IN YOUR 50s TO GO LIVE IN D.C. AND GOVERN?

WHEN YOU REALLY ARE A PHYSICIAN?

I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE PITCH THAT THE DEMOCRATS WOULD HAVE TO MAKE TO HER.

>> SHE'S A VERY DIFFERENT STYLE OF CANDIDATE.

HER POSITION NOW IS TO, YOU KNOW, GENERATE KINDNESS OR, YOU KNOW, INSPIRE KINDNESS.

YOU CAN'T BE TOO KIND AND RUN FOR SENATE, BOB CLEGG.

WHO DO THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO RUN AGAINST?

IF YOU HAD TO PICK A CANDIDATE?

>> MIKE, I DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY GOING TO MATTER ALL THAT MUCH.

THE STATE HAS BECOME, IN THE LAST TEN YEARS, SO RED THAT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT FOR ANY OF THOSE DEMOCRATS THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED TO WIN AN ELECTION NEXT YEAR.

OBVIOUSLY -- PROBABLY THE OVERRIDING FACTOR WILL BE THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT NEXT YEAR.

AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S GOING TO BE YET.

BUT TRADITIONALLY, THE FIRST MIDTERM OF A NEW PRESIDENT'S TERMTIALLY DOESN'T GO WELL FOR THAT PRESIDENT'S PARTY.

SO I THINK THE DEMOCRATS MAY BE WORKING FROM A LITTLE BIT OF A DEFICIT, AS IT IS, FOR NEXT YEAR.

>>> NEXT TOPIC, GOVERNOR DeWINE HAS GIVEN PERMISSION TO STAY UP TO TEF:00, THE CURFEW EXTENDED FROM 10:00 TO 11:00.

BARS, RESTAURANTS, STORES THAT WANT TO CAN STAY OPEN UNTIL 11:00.

THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF COVID PATIENTS IN HOSPITALS HAS DROPPED BELOW 3,400 A DAY.

IF IT KEEPS UP, THE GOVERNOR WILL EXTEND THE CURFEW TO MIDNIGHT.

>> WE WILL LOOK AT THIS AGAIN IN TWO WEEKS AND SEE WHERE WE ARE.

IF THIS TREND CONTINUES, WE MAY BE ABLE TO GO TO MIDNIGHT.

IF IT REALLY CONTINUES TO GET TO FEWER PEOPLE AND WE GET DOWN TO SEVEN DAYS AT 2,500, BELOW 2,500, THEN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GO WITH NO CURFEW.

>> PARTY ON, HOPEFULLY.

BOB CLEGG, IT IS GOOD NEWS, RIGHT?

I MEAN, THE NUMBERS ARE GOING DOWN.

REALLY HIGH IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, AND THEY'RE STILL HIGH.

BUT AT LEAST THEY'RE NOT CLIMBING ANYMORE.

DO YOU HAVE ANY WORD THAT HE'S JUMPING THE GUN A BIT, WE SHOULD WAIT, SEE HOW THESE VARIANTS PLAY OUT?

>> NO.

I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO BE ALL THAT CAREFUL ON THIS.

I GET THE SENSE THAT HE'S TELLING US, IF WE'RE GOOD BOYS AND GIRLS, HE'LL EXTEND OUR CURFEW.

YOU KNOW?

SO I GUESS WE'VE JUST GOT TO KEEP THAT MASK ON AND KEEP SOCIALLY DISTANT, AND HE'LL LET US STAY UP TILL MIDNIGHT, NEXT THING WE KNOW.

NO, I THINK HE'S DONE A GOOD JOB OF BEING CAREFUL.

OBVIOUSLY THE HOSPITALIZATION IS THE BIGGEST CONCERN, BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET TO A POINT WHERE OUR HOSPITALS ARE -- CANNOT TAKE ANY PATIENTS OR OVERCROWDED.

SO I THINK IT'S GREAT FOR THE CITIZENS OF OHIO TO SEE THAT IT'S WORKING AND THAT THEY NEED THAT POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT, THAT IF YOU KEEP DOING THIS, WE'LL GET RID OF THIS EVENTUALLY.

THE WHOLE CURFEW PROCESS.

SO NO, I THINK HE'S HANDLED IT VERY CAREFULLY, BUT CORRECTLY.

>> JULIE CARR SMYTHE, HE'S GOING BY THE NUMBERS.

IF THE HOSPITALIZATIONS REACHED 3,400, CLOSE TO 4,000, HE IMPOSED THE CURFEW, NUMBERS HEADING UP.

NOW 3,400 AND HEADING DOWN, HE'S DIALING BACK ON THE CURFEW.

SO HE SEEMS LIKE HE'S FOLLOWING SCIENCE, FOLLOWING THE NUMBERS AGAIN.

>> YES.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I MEAN, HE'S DEFINITELY WALKING THIS LINE THAT WE TALK ABOUT BETWEEN THOSE WHO WOULD HAVE HIM BE MUCH MORE FORCEFUL ON THE RESTRICTIONS AND THOSE WHO ARE REALLY WANTING TO GET THE ECONOMY OPEN AGAIN.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, YOU REMEMBER IN THE VERY EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC, WE WERE TOLD, THIS IS A LONG HAUL, DON'T GET IMPATIENT, DO YOUR PART.

NOW IT JUST FEELS LIKE WE'RE SORT OF -- IT'S HARD TO EVEN KEEP TRACK OF WHERE WE ARE AND WHICH TWO-WEEK PERIOD WE'RE IN.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE NOW HEARD HIM SAY SO MANY TIMES, WE'RE GOING TO CHECK AGAIN IN TWO WEEKS, WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO IN TWO WEEKS.

IT'S NOT EVEN A MONTH'S TIME, HERE WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINTER.

SO IT DOES DEFINITELY FEEL LIKE IT'S FLUCTUATING A LOT AS HE TRIES TO BALANCE PUBLIC SENTIMENT WITH SCIENCE.

>> HERB ASHER, HAVE WE GOT -- WE'VE HEARD ABOUT COVID FATIGUE.

HAVE WE GOTTEN STATISTICS FATIGUE?

EARLY IN THE SUMMER, EARLY FALL, 1,000 CASES A DAY WAS A HUGE NUMBER.

THEN 10,000.

NOW WE'RE BACK TO JUST 4,000 CASES A DAY.

IT'S ALL RELATIVE NOW, IT SEEMS LIKE.

IT'S HARD TO KEEP TRACK.

>> IT'S AMAZING IN TERMS OF HOW SERIOUS THE SITUATION IS.

IT SEEMS WE'VE GOTTEN A LITTLE NUMB.

GOING BACK TO THE CURFEW, THE CURFEW IS A I WA FOR THE GOVERNOR TO SEND THE SIGNAL TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND SMALL RESTAURANT AND BAR OWNERS, WHATEVER, THAT I'M SYMPATHETIC, BUT I'M TRYING TO STRIKE A BALANCE HERE.

AND IT'S REALLY NOT ME WHO'S NOW SETTING THE CURFEW, IT'S THE NUMBERS THAT ARE SETTING THE CURFEW.

AND I DON'T REALLY THINK THE CURFEW IS REALLY THAT BIG AN ISSUE NOW.

WE'RE AN OLDER GROUP ON THIS PANEL, SO I DOUBT THAT WE'RE GOING TO STAY OUT AN EXTRA HOUR AND HELP PROVIDE BUSINESS FOR THE BARS.

BUT IT IS STILL ABOUT MATH, IT STILL IS ABOUT SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, ABOUT GETTING VACCINATED.

I THINK WE HAVE A FAIRLY GOOD SYSTEM IN OHIO, ALTHOUGH I WOULD WORRY ABOUT THE RURAL AREAS.

I THINK WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE HERE -- >> OHIO'S CONTINUED TO GET COVID VACCINES SLOWLY.

OHIO GETS ABOUT 100,000 DOSES OF VACCINES EACH WEEK.

THAT AMOUNTS TO JUST 1% OF THE STATE'S ADULT POPULATION.

AT THAT PACE, IT WILL TAKE TWO YEARS TO VACCINATE ALL OHIO ADULTS.

OFFICIALS DO EXPECT THE PACE TO QUICKEN AS MORE VACCINE COMES ONLINE.

FOR NOW, THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE STARTING MONDAY ARE OHIOANS 70 AND OVER, AND SOME 55,000 TEACHERS.

HERB ASHER, AGAIN, THE GOVERNOR IS GOING WITH THE MOST VULNERABLE FOLKS GET THE VACCINE FIRST, THEN TEACHERS SO WE CAN GET KIDS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK WE'RE COMING TO A BROAD AGREEMENT THAT SCHOOLS NEED TO REOPEN FOR IN-PERSON TEACHING.

WE UNDERSTAND WHY TEACHERS MIGHT BE NERVOUS IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN VACCINATED.

I THINK IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE PUT TEACHERS IN THAT PRIORITY CATEGORY SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

AND THEN IF WE'VE DONE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS TO THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT PLUS TEACHERS BEING VACCINATED, THEN I THINK THERE'S NO REAL ARGUMENT AGAINST REOPENING SCHOOLS FOR TRADITIONAL LEARNING.

THEN WE'RE GOING TO FACE THE ISSUE OF WHAT ROLE WILL THE TEACHERS UNIONS PLAY IN SUPPORTING OR OPPOSING THAT?

AND I THINK WE'RE SEEING SOME ISSUES IN OTHER CITIES AND OTHER STATES WHERE THE TEACHERS UNIONS STILL DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO IN-PERSON LEARNING.

I THINK THERE'S A GROWING CONCERN, ESPECIALLY FOR KIDS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THAT IN-PERSON LEARNING IS VERY, VERY VALUABLE.

KIDS ARE FALLING BEHIND.

>> BOB CLEGG, DO YOU AGREE THAT TEACHERS SHOULD GO AHEAD OF, SAY, GROCERY STORE WORKERS, WAITERS, SERVERS, THAT KIND OF THING?

>> YES, I AGREE WITH THAT.

I HAVE A CHILD WHO'S BEEN IN SCHOOL SINCE AUGUST, EVERY DAY.

TEACHERS HAVE BEEN THERE WITHOUT BEING VACCINATED.

AND THEY'RE DOING IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, MORE POWER TO THEM.

HERB BRINGS UP A POINT, THOUGH.

I LIKE WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID ABOUT TEACHERS GETTING VACCINATED.

BUT THEN THEY HAVE TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM BY MARCH 1.

WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER STATES, I THINK NEW YORK BEING ONE OF THEM, WHERE THE TEACHERS WERE GETTING VACCINATED, THEN THE TEACHERS UNION SAID, WELL, WE DON'T CARE, WE'RE STILL NOT GOING TO LET THEM GO IN THE CLASSROOM.

WELL, WHAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT OF LETTING THEM CUT IN LINE IF THEY NEVER INTENDED TO HAVE THEM BE IN THE CLASSROOM TO BEGIN WITH?

WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT PROBLEM HERE IN OHIO.

BUT NO, I THINK THE TEACHERS SHOULD BE, YOU KNOW, NEAR THE HEAD OF THE LINE TO GET VACCINATED.

>> LAST TOPIC, COLUMBUS POLICE CHIEF TOM QUINLAN JUST A YEAR AFTER GETTING THE JOB.

AFTER THE POLICE DIVISION'S HEAVY-HANDED RESPONSE TO THE SPRING'S DOWNTOWN PROTEST, LAST MONTH'S FATAL SHOOTING OF AN UNARMED BLACK MAN.

>> IT BECAME CLEAR TO ME THAT CHIEF QUINLAN COULD NOT SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT THE REFORM AND CHANGE I EXPECT AND THAT THE COMMUNITY DEMANDS.

COLUMBUS RESIDENTS HAVE LOST FAITH IN HIM AND IN THE DIVISION'S ABILITY TO CHANGE ON ITS OWN.

CHIEF QUINLAN UNDERSTOOD.

HE AGREED TO STEP BACK SO THE CITY CAN MOVE FORWARD.

>> MIGHT HAVE BEEN A RELUCTANT AGREEMENT, BUT HE WILL SERVE AS DEPUTY CHIEF, DEPUTY CHIEF MIKE WOODS WILL SERVE AS ACTING CHIEF, AS THE CITY BEGINS ANOTHER NATIONWIDE SEARCH.

HERB ASHER, THE CITY COULD HAVE HIRED A DEPUTY, FORMER POLICE CHIEF, DEPUTY CHIEF FROM SEATTLE, AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAN WHO PROMISED CHANGE, BUT THEY DIDN'T A YEAR AGO.

DO YOU THINK THE MAYOR HAS REGRETS?

>> I DON'T KNOW, BUT I THINK THIS NOTION THAT IF YOU AUTOMATICALLY GET AN OUTSIDER, THAT THAT PERSON WILL COME INTO THE COMMUNITY AND FROM DAY ONE BE A MAJOR CHANGE AGENT, CAN GO A LITTLE NAIVE OR -- CAN BE A LITTLE NAIVE OR OVERLY OPTIMISTIC.

RECOGNIZE THE POLICE CHIEF, WHOEVER IT MIGHT BE, IS CAUGHT IN A REALLY DIFFICULT SITUATION, CAUGHT BETWEEN THE ELECTED POLITICIANS, WHO ESPECIALLY HERE IN COLUMBUS, WHO WANT MORE CHANGE MORE RAPIDLY, AND THE ACTIVIST GROUPS.

ALSO CAUGHT BETWEEN HIS OWN RANK AND FILE MEMBERSHIP AND POLICE UNIONS, NOT JUST HERE BUT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, WHO ARE OFTENTIMES LESS SYMPATHETIC OR LESS RELUCTANT TO PERFORM.

I THINK YOU NEED SOMEBODY WHO IS A MIRACLE WORKER, AND MAYBE WE'LL FIND SOMEBODY WHO'S A BETTER CHANGE AGENT THAN CHIEF QUINLAN.

BUT I THINK IT'S A LITTLE NAIVE TO THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE AN EASY SEARCH TO FIND THAT PERSON.

>> JULIE CARR SMYTHE, READING BETWEEN THE LINES OF WHAT THE MAYOR SAID AND HOW THE LAST SEARCH WENT, THE CHANCES OF HIRING AN OUTSIDER ARE PRETTY GOOD, WOULDN'T YOU SAY?

>> I WOULD SAY, YES.

THEY HAVE TO CONTEND WITH THE FACT THAT QUINLAN HIMSELF HAD TO DISCIPLINE THE PEOPLE WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE SHOOTING OF ANDRE HILL.

AND THAT ALSO DIDN'T LOOK GOOD, BECAUSE THERE WERE IMPROVEMENTS THEY HAD MADE THAT WERE NOT ENFORCED IN TERMS OF THE BODY CAMERAS AND THAT KIND OF THING ON THAT DAY, AT THAT CALL.

SO THAT, AS THE MAYOR POINTED OUT, MADE PEOPLE SKEPTICAL THAT THERE WERE REFORMS COMING.

>>> LET'S GET TO THE OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOTS, BOB CLEGG, YOU'RE UP FIRST.

>> ANNOUNCEMENT MADE BY THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE PROBLEMS HERE IN OHIO AND THE 49 OTHER STATES, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DELIVER THEIR 2020 CENSUS NUMBERS TILL THE END OF APRIL.

AND WE HAVE STATES LIKE OHIO THAT HAVE TO REDISTRICT, REAPPORTION THEIR STATE LEGISLATIVE SEATS, AND THAT'S GOING TO PUT A BIG-TIME CRUNCH ON ALL OF THEM.

>> HERB ASHER, 30 SECONDS?

>> LET ME FOLLOW UP ON BOB'S POINT.

THAT NEWS, RELATIVELY SPEAKING, WAS GOOD NEWS BECAUSE UNTIL THEY MADE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT, WE THOUGHT THE CENSUS DATA WAS COMING IN EVEN LATER.

SO THEY REALLY HAVE CHALLENGES HERE FOR THE LEGISLATURE, AND YOU HAVE CHALLENGES IN TERMS OF TIMETABLE, THE SCHEDULE, FOR GETTING DISTRICTS DRAWN, FOR GETTING THE DATES SET FOR PRIMARIES, FOR FILING, THINGS LIKE THAT.

I AGREE WITH BOB, THERE'S A RUSH.

>> JULIE, LAST THOUGHT?

>> MONDAY, THE GOVERNOR WILL UNVEIL HIS NEW TWO-YEAR BUDGET.

AND ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING THINGS THAT WE'LL BE WATCHING FOR WILL BE HOW DOES HE BALANCE IT?

OBVIOUSLY WE'VE LOST A LOT OF TAX REVENUE DURING THE CORONAVIRUS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE HOW HE FUNDS HIS PRIORITIES.

THAT WILL BE WHAT TO WATCH NEXT WEEK.

>> WE'LL HAVE AN EXTRA HOUR OF TAXES AFTER HE EXTENDS THE CURFEW.

GOOD NEWS FOR SUPER BOWL FANS, THEY CAN STAY, DON'T GET OUT BEFORE THE FOURTH QUARTER.

THANKS TO OUR PANEL, THANKS TO OUR CREW.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

THANKS, STAY SAFE, HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.