>> OHIO REMAINS SCARLET WITH VERY LITTLE GRAY.

WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD. "

AFTER MONTHS OF DISSECTING POLLS, ANALYZING EVERY MICRO DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP'S ATTITUDE, GAUGING THE OUTRAGE OF EVERY INSULT AND FALSE CLAIM, THE 2024 ELECTION CAME DOWN TO ONE THING.

72% OF AMERICANS ARE EITHER DISSATISFIED OR ANGRY WITH THE STATUS QUO.

AND AS ALWAYS HAPPENS, THE PARTY IN POWER SUFFERS THE CONSEQUENCES.

GIVEN THAT FUNDAMENTAL FACT, ONLY DONALD TRUMP'S PERSONAL UNPOPULARITY KEPT REPUBLICANS FROM WINNING A NATIONAL LANDSLIDE.

IN OHIO, TRUMP'S VICTORY WAS EVEN MORE CONVINCING THAN HIS LAST TWO.

HE DEFEATED KAMALA HARRIS 55% TO 44%.

THAT'S 2 POINTS BETTER THAN HIS MARGINS IN 2016 AND 2020.

I GUESS IT'S SOMEWHAT OF A SURPRISE THAT HE LENGTHENED HIS MARGIN OF VICTORY.

IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT HE WON AND HE WON EASILY, DONALD TRUMP.

>> YEAH.

I THINK THE ECONOMIC MESSAGE ABOUT HIGH INFLATION REALLY RESONATED WITH VOTERS, AND LIKE YOU SAID, THERE'S SORT OF A, A YEARNING FOR CHANGE AND THEY DIDN'T SEE KAMALA HARRIS WHO IS THE VP AS THE CHANGE AGENT.

I THINK THAT ALSO IT DEMONSTRATES OHIO IS TRAINING MORE AND MORE RED.

THE DEMOCRATS HAVEN'T WON A GOVERNOR'S RACE SINCE 2006.

SINCE THE PARTY LABELS GOT ADDED, SO THIS WAS JUST PAR FOR THE COURSE.

>> DONALD TRUMP GOT 37,000 FEWER VOTES THIS YEAR THAN HE DID IN 2020 IN OHIO.

BUT THE DEMOCRATS GOT 200,000 FEWER VOTES.

KAMALA HARRIS, 200,000 FEWER VOTES.

SO HIS LEVEL OF SUPPORT IN OHIO STATE FLOOD.

THE MARGIN WAS BETTER THOUGH.

>> YOU POINTED OUT THE PROBLEM FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SIX MAJOR URBAN LARGEST COUNTIES IN OHIO, THEIR TURNOUT WAS ONLY AT 66% INCLUDING LUCAS AT ONLY 61.

5.

WHEN YOU LOOKED AT THE MORE REPUBLICAN RURAL MID-SIZE COUNTIES, THEY WERE IN THE 70 TO 77%.

SO TURNOUT WAS A BIG FACTOR.

THERE WAS A LOT MORE ENTHUSIASM FOR THE ECONOMIC REASONS YOU CITED ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

THE DEMOCRATS JUST WEREN'T THAT MOTIVATED AND EXCITED ABOUT HARRIS.

>> WHY WAS THAT, DALE?

>> WHY WEREN'T THEY EXCITED ABOUT HARRIS?

I THINK YOU SAID IT IN YOUR OPENING.

70% OF THE ELECTORATE SAID THEY THINK THE ECONOMY IS LOUSY.

75% SAY THAT AMERICA IS ON THE WRONG TRACK.

THOSE ARE DAUNTING HEAD WINDS FOR ANYBODY WHO IS PART OF THE INCUMBENT ADMINISTRATION, AND FRANKLY, I THINK IN SOME WAYS, IT'S REMARKABLE, SHE CAME AS CLOSE AS SHE DID UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> SO IS THIS -- SHE ONLY HAD THREE MONTHS TO RUN A CAMPAIGN.

BUT SHE WAS BIDEN'S VICE PRESIDENT.

WOULD IT HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT IF THERE WAS A DIFFERENT DEMOCRAT AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET?

OR IF SHE HAD A FULL YEAR TO CAMPAIGN?

>> IT COULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT.

BUT WE CAN'T RUN THE EXPERIMENT AGAIN TO SEE HOW THAT WOULD HAVE TURNED OUT.

THERE IS A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER BIDEN SHOULD HAVE STUCK TO HIS PROMISE TO BE A FOUR-YEAR PRESIDENT.

THE THING ABOUT PRIMARIES, PRIMARIES ARE A GOOD PULSE OF WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE.

WE MISSED OUT ON THAT PRIMARY PROCESS.

AND I DON'T THINK DEMOCRATS REALLY KNEW EXACTLY WHERE THE PULSE OF THE PEOPLE WERE.

THERE WAS CONVERSATION IN JULY ABOUT A MINI PRIMARY, A BROKIERED CONVENTION.

THEY DECIDED THAT WAS TOO MUCH.

I THINK IT WOULD HAVE SHOWN PERHAPS BETTER WHERE THEIR BASE WAS.

>> J. D. VANCE NOW BECOMES VICE PRESIDENT.

SO NOW WE HAVE TO FILL A SENATE SEAT.

WHAT KIND OF SENATE DO YOU THINK MIKE DeWINE IS LOOK TO GET?

>> I THINK HE WILL PICK SOMEONE WHO CAN WIN RE-ELECTION AND WHO CAN PLAY NICE WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

SO THE OTHER FACTOR MIGHT BE, DOES HE WANT TO TAKE OUT CONTENDERS IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE TO HELP CLEAR THE TABLE FOR HIS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WHO WANTS TO BE GOVERNOR?

>> A LOT OF THINGS AT PLAY HERE.

>> ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS, I SPENT ABOUT 20 MINUTES LAST WEEK WITH THE GOVERNOR ONE-ON-ONE IN HIS OFFICE.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT AND I SAID COME WEDNESDAY, YOU MIGHT BE VERY POPULAR NEXT WEEK.

THE IRONY, ON WEDNESDAY HE GOT VIRTUALLY NOTHING ELSE DONE, PEOPLE CALLING.

BUT SURPRISINGLY, THERE WERE A BUNCH OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND MAYORS CALLING UP SAYING, I WOULD BE A WONDERFUL PERSON I COULD FINISH OUT MY CAREER AND IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE SENATOR.

HE WILL TAKE HIS TIME AND HOLD HIS CARDS CLOSE.

UNIQUELY, HE MAY BE ONE OF THE ONLY ONES TO BE A SENATOR FOR 12 YEARS, KNOWS WHAT IT IS ABOUT, AND HE WANTS SOMEONE WHO CAN WIN IN '26 BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO RUN AGAIN IN '28 AND THEN HE WANTS SOMEONE WHO CAN DELIVER AND HELP OHIO OUT IN THE SENATE.

AND HE KNOWS THAT SKILLS THAT ARE NEEDED.

>> AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID HE DOESN'T WANT IT.

JOHN HOUSTON, THE SECRETARY OF STATE, VIVEK RAMASWAMY.

WHO ELSE?

WHO IS NOT ON THE LIST?

>> WELL, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE POSSIBLE, SHE RAN IN THE PRIMARY IN 2020.

SHE DID NOT WIN.

THAT WOULD BE OUR FIRST FEMALE SENATOR EVER FROM OHIO.

SHE HAS A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH DeWINE.

KIND OF ROCKY THERE BUT I THINK SHE PATCHED UP HER RELATIONSHIP WITH DONALD TRUMP.

COULD BE A LEGACY THING, APPOINTING A FEMALE SENATOR.

VIVEK RAMASWAMY MAY WANT A CABINET POSITION.

HE MAY BE EYEING GOVERNOR.

WE'RE NOT SURE.

HE DID JUST RELOCATE HIS BUSINESS TO TEXAS.

MAYBE HE'S RELOCATING.

THERE IS A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT WHO HE'LL PICK.

ESPECIALLY 2026 WILL BE A MID-TERM.

IF PAST IS PROLOGUE, THE PARTY IN POWER GETS HIT IN THE MID-TERM.

THEY HAVE TO PICK SOMEBODY WHO CAN WIN NOT ONLY THEN BUT IN '28.

>> SO I'M GUESSING DEMOCRATS HOME THAT THE MOST EXTREME REPUBLICANS GET SELECTED SO THAT THEY HAVE A CHANCE MAYBE IN '26.

>> SURE.

EXCEPT EXTREMISM DOESN'T SEEM TO BE MUCH OF A BAR NOW FOR REPUBLICANS IN THIS STATE.

I WAS REMINDED, LAURA DID A GREAT PIECE TODAY ON HOW FAR THINGS HAVE SWUNG IN OHIO.

I'M REMINDED THE LAST TIME OHIO VOTED FOR A SENATOR AND A PRESIDENT FROM TWO DIFFERENT PARTIES ON THE SAME BALLOT WAS 36 YEARS AGO, IN 1988.

OHIO, WHEN MIKE DeWINE FINISHES HIS TERM IN JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR, OHIO WILL HAVE HAD A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR FOR 32 OF THE LAST 36 YEARS.

SWING STATE.

>> SHERROD BROWN DID WHAT HE HAD TO DO.

HE CONVINCED ABOUT 7% OF TRUMP VOTERS TO VOTE FOR HIM.

IT WAS NOT ENOUGH.

BERNIE MORENO WON BY LESS THAN 4 BUT THAT WAS PLENTY TO DEFEAT THE THREE-TERM DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT.

>> LOOK, TODAY STARTS A NEW WAVE.

WE TALKED ABOUT WANTING A RED WAVE.

I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TONIGHT IS A RED, WHITE, AND BLUE WAVE IN THIS COUNTRY.

WHAT WE NEED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS LEADERS IN WASHINGTON, D. C. THAT ACTUALLY PUT THE INTERESTS OF AMERICAN CITIZENS ABOVE ALL ELSE.

WE'RE TIRED OF BEING TREATED LIKE SECOND CLASS CITIZENS IN OUR OWN COUNTRY.

>> WE MAY BE TEMPTED TO SAY HOPE WAS NOT ENOUGH.

WE MIGHT BE TEMPTED TO SECOND-GUESS OURSELVES AND QUESTION WHETHER WE WORKED HARD ENOUGH OR LONG ENOUGH.

THAT IS NOT OUR STORY TONIGHT.

WE BELIEVE THAT ALL WORK HAS DIGNITY.

WE ALWAYS WILL.

WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF PEOPLE OVER CORPORATE SPECIAL INTERESTS.

WE ALWAYS WILL.

WE BELIEVE IF YOU LOVE THIS COUNTRY, YOU FIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT WORK.

WE ALWAYS WILL.

THIS IS A DISAPPOINTMENT BUT IS NOT A FAILURE.

>> WAS DONALD TRUMP ON THE BALLOT, WAS THERE ANY CHANCE?

THE HEAD WINDS WERE SO STRONG.

>> VIEWERS WHO MAY HAVE SEEN ME ON OTHER TELEVISION SHOWS KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR LITERALLY MONTHS THAT SHERROD'S CHANCES OF BEING RE-ELECTED WERE ALMOST ENTIRELY DEPENDENT ON THE SIZE OF TRUMP'S MARGIN IN THE STATE.

EVERYBODY KNEW TRUMP WAS GOING TO WIN OHIO.

I THOUGHT THAT --TRUMP WON OHIO BY 8 POINTS.

BOTH IN '16 AND '20.

I THOUGHT IF WE COULD KEEP THAT TO 5, 6, 7 POINTS, SHERROD COULD WIN AND IN FACT HE COULD HAVE.

UNFORTUNATELY, TRUMP EXPAND HIS MARGIN TO 11 POINTS.

THAT BECAME THE HEAD WIND THAT WAS TOO STRONG.

>> AGAIN, IT WAS DEMOCRATS WHO DIDN'T SHOW.

>> 200,000 OF THEM.

THAT HAVE WOULD CHANGED THE MARGIN ON THIS.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT TURNOUT IN PLACES LIKE CLEVELAND.

IT WAS EVEN WELL BELOW 60%.

SO I MEAN, THAT COULD BE, THEY JUST DIDN'T THINK THE STATE WOULD MATTER AND BROWN WAS NOT ENOUGH OF A DRAW TO COME OUT.

WHERE MAYBE NOT XIANG WITH HARRIS DIDN'T BRING HIM OUT.

WE'LL NEVER KNOW.

IT IS INTERESTING.

THEY THINK THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEEDS TO LOOK AT, WHY DIDN'T THESE PEOPLE TURN OUT?

ESPECIALLY WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE CONSIDERED IT AN IMPORTANT ELECTION.

>> WHAT IS THE ISSUE THAT WON IT FOR BERNIE MORENO?

THERE WERE LOT OF ISSUES.

THE BORDER, TRANSGENDER RIGHTS.

>> IT WAS PARTLY AS DALE MENTIONED, THE TRUMP THING.

ONE OF THE KEY THINGS, THE DEMOCRATS PUT ALL THEIR HOPES ON ONE THING.

THEY TRIED TO REMAKE BROWN OF SOME KIND OF VERSION OF TRUMP LIGHT.

IT DIDN'T WORK TWO YEARS AGO AND IT DIDN'T WORK THIS YEAR.

THE OTHER THING, THEY PUT ALL THEIR HOPES ON ABORTION AS THE BIG THING.

IN OHIO, TWICE LAST YEAR, PEOPLE VOTED ON ABORTION AND THAT WAS ALREADY DONE AND DECIDED.

SO IT DIDN'T HAVE AS MUCH POWER AS THEY HOPED AND THOUGHT.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK THAT DIDN'T CARRY OVER?

IN THE PAST, YOU KNOW, REFERENDUM ELECTIONS, I'M THINKING OF SB-5.

THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING THING CARRIED OVER AND HELPED OBAMA IN 2012.

THE ABORTION VOTE, IT DIDN'T REALLY HELP SHERROD BROWN.

>> SHERROD LOST BY 3.

7 POINTS AND TRUMP WON BY 11.

5 POINTS.

SO MAYBE IT DID HELP HIM.

I THINK THAT TRUMP'S EXPANSION OF HIS MARGIN OF VICTORY IN OHIO THAT PROVED THAT HE HAD VERY LONG COAT TAILS AND IT HARMED SHERROD BROWN AND IT HELPED BERNIEY MORENO.

>> TO BRIAN WHEN HE IRAN IN '22, THE COMPLAINT THAT HE DIDN'T GET THE NATIONAL SUPPORT.

THAT WAS NOT THE CASE THIS YEAR.

THERE WAS LOTS OF NATIONAL SUPPORT FOR BOTH CATS.

AND SHERROD BROWN, THAT WAS A HUGE FACTOR IN THIS RACE.

IT DIDN'T MATTER.

>> SHERROD HAD PLENTY OF MONEY.

WHAT WAS IT?

$400 MILLION?

>> CLOSE TO $500 MILLION.

>> JUST TO SHOW YOU HOW THIS HAS EXPANDED IN 1988, WHEN I WAS ON LOAN, HIS RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN, RAN AGAINST JOHN VOINOVICH.

BOTH CAMPAIGNS SPENT OVER $7 MILLION WHICH AT THE TIME WAS FAR AND AWAY THE MOST EVER SPENT ON A CAMPAIGN IN OHIO.

NOW WE'RE AT $400 MILLION.

MONEY WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH DUE RESPECT TO TIM RYAN WHO I THOUGHT RAN A REALLY GOOD CAMPAIGN.

MONEY WASN'T THE ISSUE FOR HIM EITHER.

THE FACT IS OHIO IS NOW A BEET-RED STATE.

>> WHAT KIND OF SENATOR WILL BERNIE MORENO BE?

WILL HE BE A POPULIST?

OR A CLAIM , A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE?

>> HE MADE THE POINT THAT HE WANTED TO REACH OUT.

PLACES TO FIND OUT WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD DO DIFFERENTLY.

AND HE WAS DERIDED AS ONLY A CAR DEALER.

FROM HIS EXPERIENCE DEALING WITH CUSTOMERS, HE UNDERSTANDS, YOU'D BETTER LISTEN AND YOU'D BETTER PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT PEOPLE NEED.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF NEEDS IN OHIO.

A LOT OF MAYORS, OTHER PEOPLE THAT WANT TO GET THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MORE FOCUSED, MORE EFFICIENT.

SURE, THEY WOULD LIKE MORE MONEY.

IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LOOSENS UP ON THE REQUIREMENTS, THAT WILL MAKE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAPPY.

>> AND THE FREE CAR WASHES.

>> FRANK LaROSE, JOSH, OTHER REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE RUN STATEWIDE AND LOST AND WON STATEWIDE, AND OUR TWO SENATORS CAME OUT OF NOWHERE.

THREE REPUBLICAN SENATORS CAME OUT OF THE BUSINESS WORLD.

HAD NEVER RUN BEFORE.

>> I THINK IT IS A REFLECTION OF WHERE OUR POLITICS.

ARE INCUMBENCY DOESN'T SEEM TO HELP.

TRUMP HAD NEVER HELD PUBLIC OFFICE BEFORE HE ASSUMED THE WHITE HOUSE.

AND VANCE AND MORENO SORT OF MODELED THEMSELVES OFF THAT.

THAT INSTITUTIONALISM IS THE PROBLEM.

AND I THINK IT HAS THAT APPEAL.

WE NEED BUSINESS PEOPLE TO COME FROM THE OUTSIDE AND FIX IT.

WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH THAT OR YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THAT, IT CLEARLY SEEM TO BE A PATH TO VICTORY.

>> IT SEEMS MORE LIKE AN APPEAL AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAN AT THE STATE LEVEL.

>> SO A BUSINESS PERSON FROM OUTSIDE DOESN'T HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

>> ALTHOUGH WHO KNOWS?

MAYBE THEY'LL HAVE A DIFFERENT TAKE.

>> WITH GOVERNORS, THEY WANT SOMEONE TO GET THE ROADS CLEARED IN THE WINTER TIME, THE PRISONS RUN EFFICIENTLY.

SO GOVERNOR VERSUS FEDERAL, THERE ARE DIFFERENCES.

>> TALK TO THE GOVERNOR.

IN THE WINTER TIME, OUR ROADS ARE NEVER CLEAN.

DISTRICTING REFORM, THEY RAISED AND SPENT NEARLY $40 MILLION IN THE CAMPAIGN.

OPINION POLLS SHOWED OHIOANS OVERWHELMINGLY AIMPROVED REMOVING PARTISANSHIP FROM LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT MAP-MAKING.

ON ELECTION DAY THE VOTERS SAID NO BY AN OVERWHELMING MARGIN.

SUPPORTERS SAID THEY WERE DONE IN BY BALLOT LANGUAGE DESIGNED TO CONFUSE VOTERS.

>> EVERYBODY THAT VOTED IN THIS ELECTION, I VENTURE TO SAY, THOUGHT THEY WERE VOTING TO END GERRYMANDERING.

THE MANIPULATION BY FOLKS MAKING THOSE DECISIONS.

>> THE RACE WAS NOT THAT CLOSE.

HOW MANY OF A FACTOR WAS THE BALLOT LANGUAGE VERSUS JUST BEING CAUGHT IN THIS RED WAVE?

>> I THINK IT COULD HAVE BEEN BOTH.

I THOUGHT THE CONFUSING LANGUAGE WOULD TURN OFF A COUPLE PERCENTAGE POINTS BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHEN THEY VOTE NO.

BUT I THINK WE SHOULDN'T UNDERESTIMATE THE OHIOAN VOTER.

WHEN ABORTION RIGHTS PASSED, PEOPLE SAID THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE BALLOT LANGUAGE.

PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE VOTING FOR AND THEY CAN MAKE THEIR CHOICES.

THERE WAS REALLY EFFECTIVE MESSAGING.

EVERY REPUBLICAN RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN OHIO WAS MESSAGING ON ISSUE ONE.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE FLASHY ADS BUT EVERY TIME THEY WERE GOING TO A RUBBER CHICKEN DINNER OR TO A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT ISSUE ONE AND SAYING IF YOU'RE A CONSERVATIVE, YOU'LL BE AGAINST THIS.

AND I THINK THAT WAS ENOUGH ON TELEVISION THAT PREVAILED.

>> TRUMP APPEARED IN ADS.

>> WILL HE ME SAY A COUPLE THINGS.

FIRST, I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY QUESTION THAT THEY TRIED TO CONFUSE THE ISSUE.

EVEN THE YARD SIGNS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THE VOTE NO ONE'S SAID END GERRYMANDERING, VOTE NO, WHEN THE EXACT OPPOSITE WAS TRUE.

SO EVERYONE UNDERSTOOD THAT OHIOANS DISLIKE IT.

I THINK A MUCH GREATER FACTOR WAS THE NO SIDES DECISION TO MAKE THIS A REFERENCE DULL ON DONALD TRUMP.

BY RUNNING TELEVISION ADS SAYING DONALD TRUMP WANTS TO YOU VOTE NO.

AS MUCH AS OHIOANS DISLIKE GERRYMANDERING, THEY LIKE DONALD TRUMP EVEN MORE.

>> AND THEY WERE VERY LIBERAL AND SUPPORTIVE OF NUMBER ONE.

HE SAID THINGS WERE TOO COMPLICATED AND THEREFORE, THE MESSAGING HAD TO BE MUCH BETTER.

WHEN YOU HAVE DARK ADS AND NEGATIVE MESSAGES, THAT CONNOTES NEGATIVE VOTE NO.

SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO SELL A YES VOTE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A POSITIVE UPLIFT TO IT.

>> WOULDN'T IT HAVE BEEN BETTER, HINDSIGHT IS ALWAYS 2020 BETTER, ABORTION WAS LAST YEAR.

EVEN A MID-TERM ELECTION WHEN TURNOUT IS LOWER AND THE FOLKS WHO VOTE TEND TO BE HIGHER INFORMATION VOTERS.

THERE WOULD BE, THE CONFUSION FACTOR WAS LESS OF A FACTOR THAN THIS YEAR WITH A HUGE NUMBER OF VOTERS.

>> I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

AND I DO THINK IN RETROSPECT, PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER TO HAVE THIS IN AN OFFYEAR.

NOT ONLY WOULD YOU NOT HAVE HAD TRUMP ON THE SAME BALLOT.

BUT YOU WOULD HAVE HIGHER INFORMATION VOTERS.

THERE'S A LOT OF VOTERS WHO JUST TURN OUT IN PRESIDENTIAL YEARS.

AND IT IS MUCH EASIER TO CONFUSE THOSE FOLKS THAN IT IS PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY ACTIVE IN POLITICS.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE -- THE CAMPAIGN STRATEGY OF THE YES SIDE?

BYNUM, THEY HAD REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, PEOPLE APPEARING.

>> WHEN YOU SAY WE HAVE TO STOP THESE POLITICIANS AND THEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND NOW ON THE SUPREME COURT, YES, A JUDGE AT ONE POINT BUT ALSO A POLITICAL PERSON.

SO HAVING A POLITICAL PERSON TELLING TO YOU STOP POLITICS GETS A LITTLE CONFUSING.

I THINK THE MESSAGING ON THE YES SIDE FOR $38 MILLION, THEY COULD HAVE DONE A MUCH BETTER JOB SELLING.

BECAUSE THE OTHER SIDE, I THINK, ONLY HAD $8 MILLION.

NORMALLY WITH THAT MUCH MONEY, YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB.

>> BOTH MEMBERS OF THE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION SAID THE CURRENT SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK AND THEY WERE WILLING TO WORK ON ANOTHER PLAN.

THE IOWA PLAN.

THE GOLD STANDARD ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR.

>> THERE WAS SOME MENTION OF THAT ON THURSDAY DURING A PRESS GAGGLE THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD.

I DON'T KNOW HOW FORCEFUL OR HOW QUICKLY THEY'LL DIVE INTO IT.

IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

>> AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WISE -- NOW, SHE WAS UPSET AND RIGHTFULLY A LITTLE BITTER ON ELECTION NIGHT.

SHE SAID NO, WE'RE DONE.

WOULDN'T IT HAVE BEEN WISE TO GET WITH THE GOVERNOR THE LAST TWO YEARS AND SAY LET'S GO WITH THE IOWA PLAN.

ANY CHANCE OF THAT HAPPENING?

>> MAYBE.

WITH ANY ELECTION, YOU NEED TIME TO GO HOME AND LICK YOUR WOUNDS.

I DON'T KNOW.

THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS IS SEPARATE FROM MAUREEN O'CONNER.

THEY CAN MAKE THEIR OWN CHOICES.

IF IT ACTUALLY GETS LEGS, I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGER QUESTION.

ON ELECTION NIGHT, I WAS TEXTING AND HE GAVE A VERY NONCOMMITTAL ANSWER.

IT WAS SORT OF LIKE, IF PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION, THEY CAN HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.

AND HE'S THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND HE DOESN'T WANT TO CHANGE IT, IT GOES NOWHERE.

>> WHAT IF LEGISLATURE TRIES TO COME ONE A DIFFERENT REDISTRICTING PLAN?

>> THE PROBLEM IS LIE HIGH IS SUCH A DIVERSE STATE WHERE PEOPLE ARE POLARIZED IN TERMS OF WHERE THEY LIVE.

IT IS HARD TO MAKE 99 PERFECT HOUSE DISTRICTS THAT ARE ALL BALANCED BECAUSE OUR GEOGRAPHY OR DEMOGRAPHICS ARE SO DIVERSE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE IN A LOT OF PARTS OF THE STATE LIKE TO KEEP COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.

LIKE TO KEEP COUNTIES WHOLE.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE THOSE OUT?

>> AS WE LEARNED WEDNESDAY MORNING, LIFE GOES ON.

THERE'S STILL TRAFFIC ON 315.

LINES AT THE COFFEE SHOP DRIVE-THROUGHS.

GAS IS A LITTLE CHEAPER.

HOPEFULLY WE EXCHANGED A FRIENDLY WAVE.

THE POLITICAL DIVISION RUNS DEEP.

AND DESPITE THE CALLS FOR UNITY, NO DOUBT THE BITTERNESS WILL CONTINUE.

MY QUESTION IS, DOES THE BITTERNESS AND DIVISIVENESS GET WORSE?

>> IT COULD.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

IN SOME WAYS THIS WEEK, THERE WAS ENCOURAGING SIGNS OF ANOTHER CUT IN THE INTEREST RATES.

I THINK THE PICK FOR THE WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF IS A GOOD ONE AND AN HISTORIC ONE.

AND I WALKED THE THE CONGRESSMAN YESTERDAY.

HE MADE THE POINT.

DONALD TRUMP WILL NO LONGER BE RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE AN ELECTION AHEAD OF THEM, THEY SOMETIMES DO THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

ALL OF IT DEPENDS ON WHERE IS THE ECONOMY HEAD?

WHERE IS THE WORLD HEADED?

>> WHAT DO DEMOCRATS DO?

NOT JUST WHITE WORKING CLASS.

THE POLLS SHOW WORKING CLASS OF ANY RACE WAS, IS GOING -- >> IT'S A PROBLEM WE HAVE TO FIX.

WE USED TO BE THE VOICE OF THE ECONOMICALLY DOWN TRODDEN.

NOW WE'VE BEEN TURNED INTO WHAT MANY PEOPLE LOOK AT AS THE PARTY OF THE ELITE.

THE CULTURAL ELITE, AND THE COLLEGE EDUCATED.

WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY.

SOME PEOPLE SAY, WELL, DEMOCRATS ALWAYS LOOK DOWN.

THEY CONDESCEND TO WORKING PEOPLE.

THE TRUTH IS, THIS IS THE THIRD ELECTION IN A ROW WHERE THE INCUMBENT PARTY HAS BEEN THROWN OUT OF OFFICE.

AND WILL NOBODY HAS FIGURED OUT HOW TO SPREAD THE WEALTH AND THE GAINS FROM GLOBALIZATION TO A BROAD SWATH OF PEOPLE.

IT IS ALL CONCENTRATED AT THE VERY TOP.

AND I PERSONALLY DO NOT THINK THAT ANYTHING TRUMP HAS PROPOSED TO DO IS GOING TO FIX THAT PROBLEM.

TARIFFS, IF HE FOLLOWS THROUGH ON THAT.

IT WON'T BE PAID --I HOPE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THIS.

TARIFFS ARE NOT PAID BY THE COUNTRY AGAINST WHOM THEY'RE LEVIED.

THEY'RE PAID BY THE PEOPLE WHO GUY STUFF.

>> WITH THE GERRYMANDERED DISTRICTS, THE REPUBLICAN COMPROMISE IN THE STATE THAT GETS PRIMARIES.

>> IT'S A REFLECTION THAT ONE OF THE THING WE LEARNED DURING THE REDISTRICTING SERIES, WE'RE SELF- SORTING A LOT MORE.

WE DON'T LIVE IN POLITICALLY DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER INCREASINGLY FLOCK TOGETHER.

THIS MAKES IT HARD WHEN WE'RE ALL SELF- SORTING ALL ON OUR OWN.

SO I THINK THEY CALL IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA THE ECHO CHAMBER.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE ISSUES BRIDGING THIS DIVIDE, WE'RE NOT LIVING, WORKING, HANGING OUT WITH PEOPLE WHO THINK DIFFERENTLY.

>> ONE DIVISIVE ISSUE THAT WE WILL NOT BE HEARING ABOUT IS RIGGED ELECTIONS.

I THINK THAT THE TRUMP TEAM, PIPE DOWN ON THAT LINE.

THAT'S GONE SILENT.

>> SO WE DID HAVE A FAIR ELECTION APPARENTLY THIS TIME.

ANYWAY, REAL QUICKLY, SHOULD DEMOCRATS PLAY TOUGHER?

SHOULD THEY TAKE A PAGE OUT OF TRUMP PLAY BOOK AND BE A LITTLE MORE -- THEY CALL HIM THE TIRNLT STUFF.

BUT BE EVEN MORE AGGRESSIVE?

>> IN TERMS OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN GOING FORWARD, DEMOCRATS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO MUCH OF ANYTHING IN WASHINGTON.

I MEAN, TRUMP CONTROLS NOT JUST THE WHITE HOUSE BUT HE HAS BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS, TOO.

WHETHER WE CAN HEAL THIS DIVIDE WILL DEPEND MORE ON TRUMP AND HIS ALLIES.

>> OKAY.

LET'S GET TO OUR PARTING SHOTS.

>> SPEAKING ABOUT COMING TOGETHER EARLY NEXT YEAR, THE STATE HAS TO COME UP WITH A BUDGET FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

IT WILL BE TOUGH BECAUSE A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS THEY DECIDED ON, THE MONEY WILL BE SHORT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO TEST PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO WORK THINGS OUT.

WITH LESS MONEY, IT'S A LOT TOUGHER.

THERE WILL BE HARD DECISIONS AND IT WILL BE TOUGH IN THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE.

>> AS OF TONIGHT, THERE ARE THREE SENATE RACES YET TO BE CALLED.

ARIZONA, NEVADA, PENNSYLVANIA.

THE IMPORTANCE OF WHO WINS THOSE CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.

IF THE REPUBLICANS HAVE A TWO-SEAT MAJORITY, MAYBE EVEN A THREE-SEAT MAJORITY, CENTRISTS LIKELIEST LIKE THAT CAN PLAY A ROLE.

>> A DECIDEDLY NONPOLITICAL TWIST.

THEY'RE CONSIDERING A PLAN TO PUT TOGETHER A CHRISTMAS MARKET.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.

>> GOOD NEWS FOR READERS.

26 OF 28 LIBRARY LEVIES PASSED ON TUESDAY.

AND THAT KIND OF CONTINUES THIS HISTORIC TREND OF OHIOANS LIVING IN LIBRARIES.

>> EVERYBODY LOVES LIBRARIES.

>> MORE BOOKS TO BURN!

>> MY COMMENT IS I THINK CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PANELIST WHO WON A REP SEAT AND DERRICK CLAY WON THE JOB OF THE CEO OF THE COLUMBUS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

THAT'S "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK.

WE CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ONLINE.

WATCH US ANY TIME ON OUR WEBSITE.

ALSO ON THE PBS APP AND YOUTUBE.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.