>>> WELCOME TO COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD.

JUST MORE THAN FIVE WEEKS REMAIN IN THE 2022 CAMPAIGN.

THE RACE FOR THE U.S. SENATE REMAINS TIGHT AND DEMOCRAT TIM RYAN, AND REPUBLICAN EMMA JD VANCE ARE TIED IN RECENT POLLS.

DONALD TRUMP JR. WAS IN OHIO THIS WEEK CAMPAIGNING WITH VANCE AND THEY VISITED LOCAL POLICE UNIONS.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS THAT BRIAN CRITICIZES VANCE NOT DOING ENOUGH TO HELP WITH OPIOID CRISIS, RYAN EXCEPTED $27,000 IN DONATIONS.

JD VANCE.

>>> CAMPAIGN 2022 ENTERS THE HOME STRETCH.

>>> WELCOME TO COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD .

JUST MORE THAN FIVE WEEKS REMAIN IN THE 2022 CAMPAIGN AND THE RACE FOR U.S. SENATE REMAINS VERY TIGHT.

DEMOCRAT TIM RYAN, AND REPUBLICAN J.D.

VANCE , ARE TIED IN RECENT POLLS.

DONALD TRUMP, JUNIOR, WAS IN OHIO THIS WEEK CAMPAIGNING WITH VANCE AND VISITED WITH LOCAL POLICE UNIONS.

THE AP REPORTS THAT WIFE BRIAN CRITICIZES J.D.

VANCE FOR NOT DOING ENOUGH TO DO THE OPIOID CRISIS, RYAN HAS ACCEPTED $27,000 IN DONATIONS FROM OPIOID MAKERS AND DISTRIBUTORS, AND 27,000 IS A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS RYAN HAS MADE BUT THE VANCE CAMPAIGN CALLS IT HYPOCRISY BUT IS IT TOO MUCH HYPOCRISY TO TAKE DRUG MONEY FROM THEM AND THEN CRITICIZE THEM FROM THE OPIOID CRISIS.

>> IN MY BUSINESS, WE DON'T CONSIDER THAT TO BE DRUG MONEY.

NEVERTHELESS, THAT IS A TINY, TINY AMOUNT AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS, IT WAS ABOUT THE AMOUNT LOCAL ATTORNEYS OVER A 10 YEAR TIMEFRAME MIGHT DONATE TO JUDICIAL CAMPAIGNS.

AND THE QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER HE ACCEPTED MONEY OVER TIME SOME OF IT, POSSIBLY BEFORE THE CRISIS BECAME KNOWN, BUT WHAT DID YOU DO IN RETURN?

I DO NOT SEE THAT TIM RYAN DID ANYTHING IN RETURN IS A CAUSE WAS OF THOSE SMALL DONATIONS.

>> SO J.D.

VANCE RUNS A LONG ORDER CAMPAIGN, THE TWO ADS BEFORE THAT FOCUSED ON LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND ACCUSATIONS THAT TIM RYAN VOTED TO SUPPORT THE FINDING THE POLICE.

IS THAT OF THE WINNING TICKET HIM?

>> THE INDEPENDENT POLLS, CRIME, ECONOMY, AND INFLATION ARE TOP OF MIND ISSUES FOR VOTERS IN OHIO, AND THEY ENDORSED LAW AND ORDER, LAW ENFORCEMENT IS BEHIND J.D.

VANCE .

BACK TO THE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS, $27,000 IS A LOT OF MONEY FOR THE AVERAGE OHIO AND STRUGGLING TO AFFORD A GALLON OF GAS.

I WAS A SHOW ON A WEEK AGO AND THE PANEL THEN CRITICIZE J.D.

VANCE BECAUSE OF A DOCTOR THAT HE FOUND THAT WOMEN WITH SOVIET OHIO, WITH THE OPIOID CRISIS, THERE WAS TEETH GNASHING, SO WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS GOOD FOR THE GANDER, IT IS HYPOCRITICAL FOR HIM TO TAKE THE MONEY AND HE SHOULD NOT HAVE.

>> WITH CAMPAIGN FINANCE, YOU ACCEPT MONEY FROM A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS, SOME OF IT COMES BACK, TO NOT HAUNT YOU, BUT IT SETS YOU UP FOR CRITICISM IF YOU TAKEN MONEY FROM CERTAIN GROUPS.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THE $27,000 CAME BETWEEN 2007 HIM AND EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT IS A LONG WINDOW.

AND THAT IS ABOUT OUT OF $50 MILLION HE RAISED DURING THAT TIME, SO IT IS A SMALL FRACTION AND A CHUNK OF IT CAME FROM THE PAC RAN BY CARDINAL HEALTH, AND OHIO-BASED COMPANY, AND OHIO- BASED COMPANIES OFTEN SUPPORT OHIO-BASED CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE BUT YES, THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF HYPOCRISY.

BUT IT SEEMS PRETTY TINY.

>> JOEL ROSS, WHAT ABOUT WITH TIM RYAN WHO CONTINUES HIS TRUMPET DEMOCRAT THEME FOR LACK OF BETTER DISRUPTION, FOR HIS CAMPAIGN.

>> EXACTLY RIGHT, I WOULD NOT KNOW IF I WOULD CALL IT A TRUMPET DEMOCRAT THEME.

I THINK THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THERE ARE FOLKS THAT DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES LOST BACK IN 2016, THAT CANDIDATES ARE WISELY TRYING TO SAY TIME-OUT GUYS, COME LOOK AT US AGAIN FOR WE ARE THERE TO WATCH YOUR BACK WITH RESPECT TO ECONOMIC ISSUES, AND WE ARE THERE TO PROTECT YOUR UNION MEMBERSHIP AND SO ON.

THAT IS WHAT TIM RYAN IS DOING, AND HE HAS BEEN CONSISTENT AT THAT DURING HIS TIME IN CONGRESS, AND EVEN BEFORE .

>> THE NEAT THING IS THAT ON MONDAY OF NEXT WEEK WILL HAVE THE DEBATE, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL TUNE IN AND THERE WILL BE THE 32nd TV COMMERCIAL THAT SAYS TIM I VOTED WITH TRUMP AND THE REAL PC TIM THAT VOTES 100% OF TIME WITH JOE BIDEN, AND THE ECONOMY THAT WE HAVE TODAY.

THE DEBATE ON MONDAY, J.D.

VANCE WAFTED POINT OUT OF FOCUS ON THE TIM RYAN EVERYBODY REALLY KNOWS HE IS VERSUS WHO HE WANTS THEM TO THINK THAT HE HAS.

>> THERE IS THAT KIEFER GET OUT THE VOTE EFFORTS AND WE HAVE SEEN THE TWO CANDIDATES CAMPAIGN STRATEGY AS FAR AS ADS AND CAN APPEARANCES AND SURROGATES.

WE DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE TWO CANDIDATES GET OUT THE VOTE EFFORT, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

STARTS ON WEDNESDAY AND THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE IS ON TUESDAY, SO IF YOU'RE NOT REGISTERED YET, GET ON IT BY TUESDAY.

WE DO KNOW THAT EARLY VOTING CAPTURES ABOUT ONE THIRD OF VOTERS, MAYBE A LITTLE MORE POST-PANDEMIC.

AND THEY DO VOTE ABSENTEE IN OHIO, IT IS PRETTY CRUCIAL I'VE NOT HEARD ANY SPECIFICS, BUT I DO THINK THAT ANY GET OUT THE VOTE EFFORT AND PLAN HAS GOT TO HAVE THE EARLY VOTE.

>> MIKE, SOME REPUBLICANS CRITICIZED J.D.

VANCE FOR HIS TV STYLING THE MONTH AFTER THE PRIMARY, WHILE TIM RYAN WAS ALL OVER THE TV, SOME REPUBLICANS WERE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THAT STRATEGY ARE THEY WORRIED THAT J.D.

VANCE, A FIRST-TIME CANDIDATE IN OHIO, WILL NOT HAVE THE ORGANIZATION NEEDED TO GET VOTES OUT ?

>> WE WILL SEE.

THERE CRITICISM THAT HE DESERVES, HE HAD HIS CAMPAIGN FOR NOT BEING MORE AGGRESSIVE TIM RYAN TO IDENTIFY AND DEFINE WHO HE WAS, OR WHO HE CLAIMS HE IS BUT I DON'T THINK IT IS TOO LATE, HE WAS WELL-FUNDED.

OTHER DONATIONS HAVE COME BUT WE WILL BE ABLE TO RIDE THAT WAVE AND GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

>> JOE, A LOT OF REPORTING IN RECENT WEEKS THAT SURPRISE, SURPRISE, THEY ARE NOT A MONOLITH, THERE ARE CONSERVATIVE HISPANICS AND LIBERAL HISPANICS, I DON'T WANT YOU TO SPEAK FOR THE ENTIRE POPULATION, BUT HOW ARE HISPANICS VIEWING THIS?

>> THEY ARE VIEWING LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE IS, BUT SOME DATA ARE INTERESTING BECAUSE I THINK THE FOCUS HAS BEEN PUT ON THE FACT THAT SINCE THE TRUMP ERA, THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE GAMES ON THE PART OF PARTICULARLY MALE HISPANICS.

BUT NOTHING COMPARED TO THE 44% THAT GEORGE W. BUSH RECEIVED IN HIS CAMPAIGN, OR THE 37% THAT MITT ROMNEY DID.

IN FACT, WHAT HAPPENED IS THEY LOST A BUNCH OF HISPANICS.

NOW THEY'RE GETTING A FEW BACK AS FAR AS A CONSERVATIVE HISPANIC, I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT WE, THE DEMOCRATS, NEED TO BE SURE TO BE THERE FOR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

OTHERWISE WE WILL LOSE THEM.

>> NEXT TOPIC, THE ISSUE OF ABORTION HANGS OVER THE ELECTION HUNDREDS OF ABORTION- RIGHTS OPPONENTS RALLIED AT THE STATEHOUSE THIS WEEK TO CALL FOR TOUGHER RESTRICTIONS THAN OHIO'S CURRENT SIX WEEK BAN AND GOVERNOR DeWINE IS DOUBLING HIS OPPOSITION TO ABORTION RIGHTS IN THE CAMPAIGN, WITH LITTLE FANFARE AND NO PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT.

THE GOVERNOR UNVEILED A MAJOR INITIATIVE TO HELP LOW INCOME MOTHERS AND THEIR BABIES, IT IS CALLED BOLD BEGINNINGS BUT IT CALLS ON THE LEGISLATURE TO EXPAND MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY TO MORE PREGNANT WOMEN AND CHILDREN, AND ASKS LAWMAKERS TO EXTEND PAID MATERNITY LEAVE FOR STATE WORKERS.

THE STATE WOULD SEEK FEDERAL APPROVAL TO EXPAND ACCESS TO HOUSING, AND IF LAWMAKERS APPROVED, THE STATE WOULD ELIMINATE SALES TAXES ON BABY ITEMS LIKE DIAPERS, WIPES AND CAR SEATS.

RIGHTS WELCOMED THE PROPOSAL, BUT THEY QUESTION THE TIMING IN THE FINAL STRETCH OF THE CAMPAIGN, IN WHICH GOVERNOR DeWINE FACES QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS STRICT ANTI-ABORTION-RIGHTS STANCE IN THE GOVERNOR'S SPOKESMAN SAYS THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN CONSIDERING THE PROPOSAL FOR SOME TIME.

SO COME IF HE HAS BEEN CONSIDERING THIS PROPOSAL FOR SOME TIME, AND THESE ARE NOT NEW PROBLEMS FACED BY LOW INCOME MOTHERS AND THEIR BABIES, WHY DID HE UNVEIL IT SIX WEEKS BEFORE THE CAMPAIGN, AND NOT SIX MONTHS BEFORE?

>> THERE'S NEVER THE WRONG TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING, HE CANNOT JUST DO IT ON HIS OWN SOME OF THAT HE NEEDS JOE BIDEN AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO EXPAND DOLLARS, NEEDS LEGISLATURE, WHO IS ON THE BREAK UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION, SO WHETHER HE ANNOUNCED THIS IN JUNE, OR NOW, HE STILL NEEDS ACTION FROM THE LEGISLATIVE BLANCHE.

MIKE DeWINE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF RECORD SUPPORTING PREGNANT WOMEN AND BABIES BORN AND UNBORN, IT WAS COMMON SENSE APPROACH, WE WILL ELIMINATE MY KIDS ARE OLDER NOW BUT IT WAS A LOT OF MONEY BACK IN THE DAY AND IT MORE MONEY NOW BECAUSE OF INFLATION, AND EVEN DEMOCRATS HAVE SAID, AND THEY CAME KICKING AND SCREAMING, THAT THESE ARE GOOD IDEAS .

OF COURSE WE CAN PLAY POLITICS AND CRITICIZE FOR OTHER THINGS, THESE ARE GOOD IDEAS ACROSS THE BOARD WHETHER DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN TO HELP LOW INCOME WOMEN.

>> YOU ARE A VETERAN IN THIS, THE LEGISLATION WAS NOT TOO KEEN ON THAT, ARE THEY GOING TO EXPAND MEDICAID EVEN FOR THIS POPULATION?

>> I THINK THIS IS POLITICALLY PALATABLE FOR REPUBLICANS.

THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY YES WE OPPOSE ABORTION IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, EXCEPT FOR LIFE OF THE MOTHER.

WE WILL OFFER HELP TO YOUNG FAMILIES AND WOMEN.

ALSO THIS IS A MUCH SMALLER EXPANSION THAN THE MEDICAID EXPANSION WITH THE KASICH ADMINISTRATION.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT THESE TAX BREAKS ON BABY ITEMS AND SO ON, IT IS ALMOST A TOKEN.

IT COSTS $300,000 TO RAISE A KID TO 18 YEARS OLD.

SO GETTING A TAX BREAK THAT SAVES $70 A YEAR ON DIAPERS, I MEAN EVERY BIT ADDS UP, BUT STILL.

>> IS IT SYMBOLIC OR REAL HELP?

>> IT IS BOTH, AND MIKE IS CORRECT, DEMOCRATS, CRITICIZING THE TIMING, EVEN WITH THAT, IN THAT SENSE, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL HAVE MUCH OF A POLITICAL IMPACT ON THE ELECTIONS ANYWAY.

I WILL BE THE LAST PERSON IN THE WORLD TO SAY THAT AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THAT WE WILL OPPOSE IT FOR SOME REASON.

I THINK IT IS TERRIFIC THAT THERE ARE INITIATIVES TO HELP, WITH A LOT OF THESE FOLKS BEING SINGLE MOMS, AND PEOPLE THAT NEED THE MONEY, NEED THE ASSISTANCE.

THAT IS FINE.

AND I THINK WE HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

SURROUNDING THIS ISSUE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE POLLS, IT IS LIKE NUMBER ONE, WELL 27% SAY IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE NUMBER TWO IS A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY, SURPRISINGLY AT 20%, AND ABORTION IS THIRD IN THE LAST POLL RELEASED PUBLICLY HERE IN OHIO.

IT IS LESS THAN THE ECONOMY, BUT THREE OR FOUR TIMES GREATER THAN IT WAS FOR YEARS AGO DID WHO IS MAKING UP THE 13% THAT IS NOW LABELING THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE?

>> PROBABLY WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE WOULD BE MY GUESS.

THE REASON WHY IT HAS RISEN TO NUMBER THREE IS BECAUSE OF THE DOBBS DECISION IS PUT ABORTION FRONT AND CENTER IN THE MINDS OF A LOT OF VOTERS.

>> THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AT THE STATEHOUSE, THAT SHOWS THERE IS STILL ENTHUSIASM THERE AND HOW MUCH OF THAT 13% WITH A THIS IS NUMBER ONE ARE CONSERVATIVES WHO OPPOSE ABORTION RIGHTS?

PULLING ON ABORTION IS TRICKY, SOME ESSAYS THEY ARE PRO-LIFE AND YOU ASK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS AND IT DILUTES IT, AND YOU ASK IF THEY ARE PRO-CHOICE, IT DILUTES.

>> YOU ASK IF THEY ARE AND 13% CHOSE IT.

>> REGARDLESS OF IT, THIS IS THE THING TO KEEP IN MIND, EVERY POLL DEMONSTRATES THAT MIKE DeWINE IS WINNING BY DOUBLE DIGITS .

HE SIGNED THE HEARTBEAT BILL, HE CONTINUES TO SUPPORT PRO-LIFE INITIATIVES AND CONTINUES TO SUPPORT OHIO RIGHT TO LIFE AND IS STILL WINNING BY 10 POINTS BUT I READ ARTICLES THAT ARE NEW VOTERS IN OHIO THAT REGISTERED THE PAST FEW MONTHS, IF 100% OF THE VOTE FOR MIKE DEWINE'S OPPONENT HE STILL WINS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY IF IT IS THIRD, FOURTH, OR SECOND ON THE LIST, THE ECONOMY, AS YOU SAID, IS STILL NUMBER ONE.

>> IT'S NOT JUST WITH ONE ISSUE.

>> HE STILL HAS RESIDUAL SUPPORT FROM HIS HANDLING OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND THAT IS FROM 2020.

LET ME SUGGEST A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE THAT NEED TO BE THROWN INTO THE MIX.

ONE OF THEM IS THE ISSUE OF POLLING.

I THINK POLLING IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT .

I BELIEVE IN STATISTICAL SAMPLING I BELIEVE IN POLLING.

THE PROBLEM IS THE LANDMINES THAT WERE TRADITIONALLY USED ARE NOT THERE ANYMORE BUT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I DO NOT ANSWER EVERYTHING THAT COMES TO MY CELL PHONE.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAD AN EXPLOSION IN THE REGISTRATION OF WOMEN, MANY OF THEM, THEY SAY YOUNG WOMEN IN THE STATE OF OHIO, SECOND ONLY IN THE NATION, TO PASS THIS BID AND WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN KANSAS IN RESPECT TO THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND WITH RESPECT TO PRIVACY.

SO WE HAVE 90,000 NEW VOTERS THAT HAVE BEEN REGISTERED, WHO ARE WOMEN IN THE STATE OF OHIO.

6.4% .

>> PERHAPS THE MOST CRUCIAL RACES ON THE BALLOT ARE NOT FOR GOVERNOR OR U.S. SENATE, BUT OHIO SUPREME COURT.

THE NEXT COURT WILL TRY TO SETTLE THE REDISTRICTING TO ABIDE BY ITS ORDERS AND THE STATE'S HIGHEST COURT COULD RULE ON ABORTION RESTRICTIONS THERE ARE THREE RACES ON THE BALLOT TO THE TOP JOB IS OPEN BECAUSE MAUREEN O'CONNOR IS EDGING OUT, JUSTICES BREWER AND KENNEDY WANT TO BE CHIEF JUSTICES.

TO REPUBLICAN INCOME AT SPACE CHALLENGES, PAT FISHER FACES STATE APPEALS COURT JUDGE JAMISON, AND PAT DeWINE THIS IS ANOTHER APPEALS COURT JUDGE, MARILYN VYAS.

IT IS HARD TO GAUGE WHERE VOTERS STAND ON THESE ISSUES BUT THESE ARE CRUCIAL RACES VOTERS WILL DECIDE.

>> USA TODAY AND SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY DID A POLL A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND THEY FOUND NOT ONLY IS THE J.D.

VANCE AND TIM RYAN RACE CLOSE, BUT THESE THREE RACES ARE CLOSE AND THERE ARE A COUPLE THINGS THAT ARE VERY DIFFERENT.

WE HAVE PARTY AFFILIATION AFTER THE NAME OF THE JUSTICE CANDIDATES, AND THE RACES WILL MOVE UP THE BALLOT.

AND SO VOTERS MAY NOT HAVE AS MUCH FATIGUE BY THE TIME THEY GET TO THE JUDICIAL CANDIDATES AND PEOPLE ARE PAYING MORE ATTENTION TO THE SUPREME COURT BECAUSE OF ABORTION AND REDISTRICTING THAN THEY HAVE IN THE PAST.

IT IS REALLY INTERESTING.

THE BALANCE OF THE COURT IS 4-3 AND O'CONNOR IS THE SWING VOTE, BUT FOUR REPUBLICANS AND THREE DEMOCRATS AND THE GPS CONTROL THE MAJORITY OF SEATS ON THE COURT SINCE 1986, THIS IS THE FIRST CHANCE FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO SWING THAT, AND IT HINGES NOT ON WHO WINS THE CHIEFS RACE, BECAUSE O'CONNOR LEAVES, AND MIKE DeWINE WILL BACKFILL EITHER BRENNER OR KENNEDY'S SLOT WITH ANOTHER REPUBLICAN.

INSTEAD IT HINGES ON WHETHER THE TWO APPELLATE JUDGES CAN PICK OFF A REPUBLICAN FROM CINCINNATI NAMED PAT DeWINE OR PAT FISHER.

>> PAT DeWINE HAS GOOD NAME RECOGNITION BECAUSE HIS DAD IS OF THE GOVERNOR AND HE IS THE SITTING JUSTICE, PAT FISHER, SITTING JUSTICE, NOT THE SAME I.D.

BUT BETTER THAN HIS OPPONENT.

CAN THE TWO CHALLENGERS, WITH LIMITED NAME I.D., WHEN?

>> YES THEY CAN FOR THE SIMPLE REASON FOR WHAT LAURA JUST SAID, WE HAVE A DNR NEXT TO IT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OHIO HISTORY.

>> THAT HELPS THE DEMOCRATS?

>> YES IT DOES, AS A CONSEQUENCE OF WHAT I'VE SAID A COUPLE OF MINUTES AGO .

WE HAVE HAD AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS THAT ARE MORE THAN LIKELY, IN MY OPINION, GOING TO BE SUPPORTING DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES THAT MAY NOT BE THE CASE, I HAVE A FRIEND RUNNING FOR THE COURT OF APPEALS AND LINCOLN COUNTY, THOSE COUNTIES, AND THAT DISTRICT.

THAT MAY NOT BE THE CASE.

BUT STATEWIDE I THINK THAT WE HAVE A CHANCE TO BY THE WAY, THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN 2% AND 3% ON EACH ONE, NOT JUST THE CHIEF JUSTICE.

BY THE WAY, IS THE SENIOR MEMBER OF THE PANEL LET ME OBJECT TO THE TERM AGING OUT.

LET'S JUST SAY LIMITATIONS.

POSITION.

ANYWAY.

I ASSUME YOU DISAGREE TO OUR MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

SPIRIT I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH THE PANELISTS, MY GUESS IS OVER FOUR DOLLARS A GALLON ON ELECTION DAY AND IT WILL BE CLOSE TO FIVE DOLLARS A GALLON, THIS IS THE MIDTERMS AND WE KNOW WHAT THE HISTORY TELLS US ON MIDTERMS, PEOPLE ARE UPSET AND THEY WILL TAKE THEIR R BALLOT AND GO, AND ON THE OTHER SIDE THERE ARE NO ENTHUSIASM FOR DEMOCRAT REGALIS OF 90,000 PEOPLE TO MAY REGISTER TO VOTE ACCORDING TO THE POLLING, WITH NAME I.D., WHOSE RUNNING AND THE GOVERNOR IS IN THE 30s OR DEMOCRATS, NO ENTHUSIASM, REPUBLICANS ARE ENTHUSED AND INDEPENDENCE ARE BREAKING FOR REPUBLICANS, IT WILL GO R ALL THE WAY.

>> THERE IS ALL OF THESE WILLING VOTERS THAT HAVE REGISTERED AND THERE'S A LOT OF ANGER ABOUT THE DOBBS DECISION, SOME ANGER ABOUT GUNS, A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT ELECTION DENIERS BUT THIS IS NOT A STANDARD MIDTERM, WOULD YOU AGREE?

>> I THINK IT IS.

EVERY WOMAN IN OHIO IS NOT VIRTUOUS, WE MENTIONED MOMENTS AGO THE MARCH THAT WE HAD AND I WAS THERE ON WEDNESDAY, WE HAD CLOSE TO 3000 PEOPLE.

THERE WERE WAY MORE WOMEN THAN MEN.

LISTEN, THERE IS A LOT MORE WOMEN IN COLUMBUS AND THE CAMPUS OF OHIO STATE THAT ARE PRO-CHOICE AND PRO-LIFE, BUT TO SAY THAT THERE ARE MORE WOMEN REGISTERED TO VOTE, AND GOING FOR DEMOCRATS, THAT IS NOT FAIR.

>> ARE THEY NEWLY REGISTERED THE CYCLE?

>> WE DID NOT ASK BUT LOOK AT THE PICTURES INDEPENDENT MEDIA PUT ON IT IS ALL WOMEN, GIRLS, TEENAGERS, THEY COME FROM SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES.

>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THE IMPACT OF CULTURE AND RELIGION IT IS THE ONE THAT REALLY SUPPORTS THE FOLKS THAT ARE ON THE PRO-LIFE SIDE.

ONE INTERESTING THING THAT HAS HAPPENED, MIKE MENTIONED THE ONES IN COLUMBUS LIKE STUDENTS AT OHIO STATE THE ONES TO REGISTER TO VOTE FOR DEMOCRAT.

ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS IS THAT THE RURAL AREAS OF OHIO HAVE BEEN LOSING VOTERS TO THE CITY'S.

AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THAT PHENOMENON, AND THERE IS ANOTHER PHENOMENON, AND THERE IS YOU TEND TO VOTE ARE LIKE THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU.

WE DO STAND A CHANCE TO GO AGAINST TRENDS THIS YEAR.

>> I ALSO THINK A FIVE DOLLAR GAS, VERSUS ABORTION, PEOPLE WILL BE VOTING WHEN THEY CHECKING THE BOX FOR SUPREME COURT CANDIDATES, ABORTION WILL BE MORE FRONT AND CENTER IN THEIR MINDS THAN HOW MUCH THEY PAID IN GAS TO GET TO THE POLLS >> IT IS A TRICKY ELECTION TO FIGURE OUT MANY MORE VARIABLES, AND AS JOE YOU MENTIONED, THE POLLING YOU JUST WONDER HOW ACCURATE IT IS THAT YOU SEE RESULTS FROM BRAZIL, WHERE THAT CANDIDATE IS WAY UNDER THE POLLS AND ALMOST ONE OUR LAST TOPIC, OHIO SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE WANTS TO SET UP A TEAM TO INVESTIGATE ELECTION AND CAMPAIGN WRONGDOING.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE INTEGRITY SQUAT WOULD LOOK FOR ELECTION FRAUD, DATA BREACHES, ABUSIVE ROBOCALLS, AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE PROBLEMS.

HE SAYS THERE IS A CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE AND THE UNIT IS DESIGNED TO TAKE THOSE CONCERNS AS THEY COME WHO HAS THE SUPPORT OF ONE GOVERNMENT GROUP, THE HEAD OF LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS TOLD THE DISPATCH THAT THE UNIT COULD BRING COULD BRING MORE COMFORT AND FRAUD IS RARE.

THERE ARE 77 CASES A POSSIBLE VOTER FRAUD TO PROSECUTORS, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE VOTE IN OHIO ELECTIONS, 6 MILLION PEOPLE VOTED IN 2020 .

JOE, WHEN YOU THINK OF FRACKING SECRETARY OF STATE YOU DON'T THINK OF INVESTIGATING.

BECAUSE THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAVE THE LEGAL AUTHORITY HAVE AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE FRAUD ON THE OTHER ISSUES?

>> THEY DO FIT AS A MATTER FACT THIS IS SOMETHING VERY COMMON IN STATE AGENCIES, OR YOU COULD HAVE INVESTIGATORS THAT REPRESENT IMPACT, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL FOLKS.

THAT IS WHAT WILL LIKELY HAPPEN HERE.

THE INTERESTING THING HERE IS HE WANTS TO CREATE THIS UNIT TO GIVE COMFORT TO PEOPLE THAT HIS OWN PARTY HAVE MADE SKEPTICAL OVER THE WHOLE ISSUE OF ELECTION.

THAT IS THE ONE THING THAT I HAVE WRONG.

ANYTHING THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS SAYS I AM FOR, IF THEY FEEL THIS WILL GIVE COMFORT TO PEOPLE , AND THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT IT, THAT IS FINE WITH ME.

>> AGAIN WITH THE TIMING, SIX WEEKS BEFORE THE ELECTION BUT WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT NOT TO VOTER FRAUD SINCE THE DAY AFTER THE 2020 ELECTION, CLOSE TO TWO YEARS, WHY NOT FORM THIS UNIT 18 MONTHS AGO?

SPEAK AGAIN IT IS NEVER THE WRONG TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING, SECTION HERE'S A SECRETARY OF STATE SHALL INVESTIGATE FRAUD IRREGULARITIES AND OTHER THINGS BUT IT IS ALREADY IN THE REVISED CODE ARE PASSED SECRETARY OF STATE'S HAVE NOT DONE WHAT FRANK LAROSE IS DOING NOW IS NOT CREATING ANYTHING BUT DOING HIS JOB WITH THE REVISED CODE AND WHAT STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITIES REQUIRE HIM TO DO.

>> BUT WITH 77 POSSIBLE CASES ?

>> SINCE 2020 THERE WERE 31 ELECTIONS IN THE STATE OF OHIO THAT WERE TIRED, IF THERE WERE FRAUD IN ANY OF THOSE 31 THEY WOULD DISENFRANCHISE THOUSANDS.

BUT THERE IS NO FRAUD BECAUSE WE AGGRESSIVELY FIGHT IT , THE 88 COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS, THE SECRETARY OF STATE WITH THIS NEW UNIT NOW, AND THE COUNTY PROSECUTORS LIKE ALL THREE OF THEM BEFORE TAPING THE SHOW, THEY ARE UNDERSTAFFED, THEY CANNOT FIND ATTORNEYS OR INVESTIGATORS, THESE COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S TO PROSECUTE THIS, DOESN'T GO TO FRONT OF THE LINE WE HAVE MURDERS AND OTHER HEINOUS CRIMES SO NOW THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL DO HIS JOB THE LAW REQUIRES AND WORK WITH THE AGM PROSECUTORS.

>> IF THEY RUN OUT OF FRAUD CASES TO INVESTIGATE, BECAUSE IT PLOWED THROUGH THE 77 PRETTY QUICKLY, YOU KNOW IF THEY WILL ACTUALLY INVESTIGATE PROBLEMS WITH CAMPAIGN FUNDING AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE, THERE MIGHT BE SOME LEEWAY THERE A FEW YEARS BACK, CLAYTON LUCKY A DEMOCRAT FROM DAYTON, HE DIVERTED $130,000 OUT OF HIS CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT BUT IT WENT UNDETECTED BY THE SECRETARY OF SECONDARY ESTATE DOESN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO LOOK AT THE UNDERLYING BANK ACCOUNT RECORDS.

AND ONLY GOT DETECTED BECAUSE ANOTHER GUY DID SOME BAD STUFF AND THE FEDS CAUGHT ON TO IT, PULLED THE STRING AND FOUND OUT WHAT LUCKY WAS DOING.

>> MORE HIJINKS ON THAT END OF IT, RATHER THAN PEOPLES AND WE HAVE ENOUGH TROUBLE GETTING PEOPLE TO GET OUT AND VOTE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

IT ISN'T A MATTER OF PEOPLE COMING OUT OF THE WOOD WORKS DEVOTE ILLEGALLY.

>> HAVE TO GET INTO POLITICS HERE, FRANK LAROSE IS TRYING TO TOW THE LINE AND HE CALLED OHIO'S ELECTION IN 2020 THE MOST SUCCESSFUL EVER.

BUT THERE ARE THOSE IN HIS PARTY WHO SAY IT WAS RIGGED, NOT NECESSARILY HERE, BUT OTHER PLACES.

IT CANNOT COME RIGHT OUT AND SAY THAT IS ALL FALSE, YOU ARE NUTS, IT WAS NOT RIGGED THIS IS PART OF THAT STRATEGY.

>> IF WE WANT TO ENSURE INTEGRITY IN OUR VOTING SYSTEM, WE HAVE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE, AND HE IS JUST DOING HIS JOB, THE REVISED CODE PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE WHEN DECADE AGO SAID YOU SHALL INVESTIGATE FRAUD.

>> BUT WHY DID HE NOT DO THAT IN THE FIRST YEAR OF HIS FIRST TERM AND WHY NOW?

>> I AM NOT SURE.

>> IT IS NEVER THE WRONG TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING, IT IS INNOVATIVE AND SOMETHING DIFFERENT I TALKED TO FRANK AND HE SAID SECRETARY OF STATES ACROSS OUR COUNTRY ARE CALLING HIM AND THINK OF US MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT YOU ARE DOING, THIS IS A GREAT IDEA.

>> DOES LEAD TO MORE CONFIDENCE, REGARDLESS OF TIMING.

TIME NOW FOR THE WEEKLY OFF THE RECORD, FINAL THOUGHTS AND PARTING SHOTS, JOE YOU ARE UP FIRST.

>> AND SALVATION OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, I WOULD LIKE TO HONOR OWN OHIOAN, A SPANISH IMMIGRANT, JOSE, IN 1854, ON OHIO'S LAKE ERIE ISLAND AND HE ESTABLISHED A VARIETY OF BUSINESSES, AND IS CONSIDERED THE FATHER OF OHIO'S WINE INDUSTRY.

>> MIKE.

>> DIFFERENTLY REMINDER BACK IN 2004 CONSECUTIVE STATE JENNIFER BRUNNER WAS THE FIRST ELECTION DENIER, NOT JUST OHIO BUT THE U.S. DID SHE REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE OUTCOME OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION THAT GEORGE BUSH WON BUT AND SHE WENT TO ALL 88 COUNTY'S WITH SEMI TRUCKS, COLLECTED ALL THE PAPER BALLOTS AND TOOK THEM TO SECURE LOCATIONS AND SCRUTINIZE THEM BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT CONSPIRACY THEORIES AND ELECTION DENYING, IT STARTED RIGHT HERE IN OHIO WITH FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE JENNIFER BRUNNER.

>> NOT ALL DEMOCRATS QUESTIONED IT.

>> WE WILL NOT SEE A DEBATE BETWEEN MIKE DeWINE AND NAN WHALEY, DESPITE WIDE SUPPORT FOR DEBATES.

AT THE OHIO DEBATE MISSION WILL BE SPONSORING ONE BETWEEN SHARON KENNEDY AND JENNIFER BRUNER, ON OCTOBER 23rd.

>> 80% IN THE POLLS SAY THEY WANT DEBATES NOW YOU HAVE TO WATCH THEM BUT STARTS MONDAY NIGHT, THE J.D.

VANCE AND TIM RYAN DEBATE, 7:00 ON MONDAY EVENING COMING HERE ON TV LOCALLY HERE IN COLUMBUS LOOK FOR THAT AND IF YOU DO WANT THOSE DEBATES, YOU NOW HAVE TO WATCH THEM BUT A FINAL REMINDER IS NEXT WEEK WE HOST A SPECIAL LIVE PRODUCTION ON COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD AT OUR NEW HEADQUARTERS, AT THE NEW WOSU HEADQUARTERS, IT IS THE EVENING BUT JOIN ME AND OUR PANEL AS WE DISCUSSED THE HOME STRETCH OF THE 2022 CAMPAIGN, AND WHAT THIS CRUCIAL ELECTION WILL MEAN FOR OHIO, AND A NATION, ALL IN FRONT OF A LIVE, STUDIO AUDIENCE.

THERE WILL BE A Q&A SECTION AND A RECEPTION AFTER THE PROGRAM, VISIT WOSU.ORG/EVENTS TO BUY TICKETS BUT THAT IS COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD FOR THIS WEEK, CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK WATCH AS ANYTIME, ON YOUR TIME, ON WOSU.ORG , AND ON THE PBS VIDEO APP.

FOR OUR CREW AND PANEL, I MIKE THOMPSON, HAVE A GOOD WEEK.