>> GOVERNOR DEWINE SENDS OHIO GUARD TROOPS TO WASHINGTON, AND THE 2026 DEMOCRATIC SLATE TAKES SHAPE.

>> WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD," I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

GOVERNOR DEWINE USUALLY TRIES TO STAY UNDER THE RADAR WHEN IT COMES TO CONTROVERSIAL DECISIONS MADE BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

BUT, NOT THIS WEEK.

OHIO WAS AMONG THE FIRST STATES TO AGREE TO SEND ITS NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO WASHINGTON D. C. , TO HELP THE PRESIDENT'S EFFORT TO PROVIDE ADDED SECURITY.

THE GOVENROR SENT 150 OHIO GUARD MEMBERS TO WASHINGTON.

THE PRESIDENT SAYS, "OUT OF CONTROL CRIME" REQUIRES THE TROOPS.

BUT, JUSTICE DEPARTMENT DATA SHOWS CRIME IN THE CITY IS AT A 30-YEAR LOW.

GOVERNOR DEWINE SAYS, THE DECISION IS CONSISTENT WITH HIS ADMNISTRATION'S POLICY.

HE SENDS THE OHIO GUARD TO WHEREVER IT'S NEEDED, NO MATTER WHETHER IT'S A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN.

SO, THIS WAS A SURPRISE TO ME THAT HE WAS SENDING SOME TROOPS, VERY CONTROVERSIAL MOVE ON A PRESIDENT PART AND THE WIND JUMPED RIGHT IN.

>> WELL, GOVERNOR DeWINE SAID HE SENDS TROOPS BASED ON REQUEST WHETHER IT IS A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT BUT I SEE A LESS LIKELY SCENARIO WHERE HE'S GOING TO DENY THAT REQUEST TO A POPULAR REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT WHO HAS BEEN ELECTED, YOU KNOW, TWICE IN OHIO AND HAS HAD HIGH MARKS IN OHIO THREE TIMES AND OHIO HAS BEEN DEALING WITH ITS OWN LITTLE BIT OF A QUESTION ABOUT SAFETY OF THE CITY WHEN YOU LOOK BACK A COUPLE WEEKS WITH THAT FIGHT IN CINCINNATI.

SO, I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THIS IS GOING TO FLY UNDER THE RADAR WITH DeWINE, BUT HE WAS ASKED AND HE SENT THEM.

>> JULIE, YOU TALKED WITH A RETIRED MILITARY OFFICIAL VERY INVOLVED WITH OHIO'S PAST, RELIEF RESCUES, RESCUE EFFORTS, AND HE WASN'T A FAN?

>> YES, WE HAVE A GERMAN IN THE STATE NAMED ADAM MILLER, HE WAS IN THE DEMOCRATIC STRAIGHT LEGISLATURE, BUT HE WAS IN A NEWS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK OF GROUPS THAT WERE AGAINST THIS MOVE, THIS INCLUDED THE COMMON CAUSE, ACLU, AND SO FORTH.

AND HE HAD HELPED TO SORT OF CREATE THE TASK FORCE FOR HOMELAND EMERGENCIES THAT WERE POPPING UP AFTER 9/11 AND DIFFERENT HURRICANES.

HE WAS SAYING THAT IN NORMAL, THE PROPER PROTOCOLS WERE FOLLOWED, FOR GOVERNOR DeWINE, HE HAD A CHANCE TO CHANGE HIS MIND, IF YOU WANTED TO.

>> PUT ME DOWN AS SHOCKED THAT A FORMER DEMOCRAT POLITICIAN IS MAD THAT A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT.

OUTSIDE OF THE BLUEST CORNERS OF AMERICA, IT IS NOT CONTROVERSIAL THAT WASHINGTON IS A DANGEROUS PLACE.

CRIME MAY BE DOWN, ALTHOUGH AT LEAST ONE D. C. POLICE COMMANDER HAS BEEN FIRED FOR FUDGING THE DATA AND IT IS ONLY DOWN COMPARED TO FORMER D. C. NUMBERS.

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN BAD.

I USED TO LIVE THERE.

IT IS A DANGEROUS PLACE.

>> BUT, I GUESS THE QUESTION IS, THE SYMBOLISM OF HAVING MILITARY TROOPS ACTING AS LAW ENFORCEMENT, THAT IS UNUSUAL IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> YEAH, THEY ARE NOT DOING TRADITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DUTIES LIKE STOPPING CARS AND ARRESTS, THEY ARE FILLING IN ON TRAFFIC CONTROL AND VISIBILITY, WHICH FREES UP THE D. C. POLICE TO DO NORMAL POLICE ACTIVITIES.

LET'S RECALL MIKE DeWINE ALSO OFFERED STATE POLICE OFFICERS TO CINCINNATI AFTER THE DOWNTOWN BE DOWN A FEW WEEKS AGO.

SO, I THINK MIKE DeWINE WANTS TO BE HELPFUL WITH THE RESOURCES OHIO HAS.

>> JULIE, THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY ASKED FOR THE TROOPS, IF HE HAD SAID "NO," THAT WOULD HAVE BLOWN UP, IF DeWINE SAID "NO"?

>> RIGHT, I AM CURIOUS --AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANY REPORTERS GOT TO THIS THIS WEEK --BUT, YOU KNOW, WHY WERE WE ONLY 1 OF 3 STATES THAT ENDED UP BEING IN THAT FIRST ROUND?

BECAUSE WE HAVE A VICE PRESIDENT FROM OHIO, PERHAPS?

OR, OTHER INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON WHO SAY, NOW WE KNOW OHIO IS THE GO TO FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION?

>> WELL, YOU CAN DRIVE TO D. C. PRETTY EASILY AND IF YOU'RE COMING FROM IDAHO, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FLY.

>> NOW, CLEVELAND --I LOOKED AT THE CRIME STATS, THIS IS FEDERAL CRIME STATS FROM THE FBI IN 2024, CLEVELAND'S VIOLENT CRIME RATE IS SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE THAN MY WASHINGTON, D. C. THE MURDER RATE IN WASHINGTON IS SLIGHTLY HIGHER, BUT THE OVERALL VIOLENT CRIME RATE IN CLEVELAND, PERSONAL PROPERTY, MUCH HIGHER.

CINCINNATI, ABOUT THE SAME.

COLUMBUS IS ACTUALLY DOING MUCH BETTER THAN D. C. OR THE OHIO CITIES.

WHY NOT NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS IN CLEVELAND?

>> WE DON'T KNOW THAT THE CLEVELAND POLICE HAVE TOLD HER SUPERIORS TO FUDGE NUMBERS, AS I MENTIONED.

THERE IS AT LEAST ONE WHO HAS BEEN DISCIPLINED AND FIRED FOR DOING THAT.

THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THEY ARE TELLING OFFICERS TO DOWNPLAY IT.

YOU SORT OF GLIDED PAST THE MURDER THINGS.

"WELL, EXCEPT FOR THE MURDERS. "

>> WELL, I WAS ABOUT TO SAY.

>> LISTEN, I WANT CLEVELAND TO BE SAFE, I WANT WASHINGTON TO BE SAFE, BUT TRUMP'S POINT IS, THIS IS THE WELCOME MAT TO AMERICA, PEOPLE VISIT WASHINGTON, PEOPLE COME FROM OTHER COUNTRIES TO DO BUSINESS IN WASHINGTON.

IF YOU COME TO WASHINGTON, YOU WANT IT TO BE SAFE.

>> I THINK THE THINGS THAT ARE POINTING TO THE CRIME STATS, AND THE OPTICS, AND HOW DO PEOPLE FEEL IN THE CITY?

AND YOU WILL HEAR THAT SOME PEOPLE FEEL VERY SAFE IN D. C. AND SOME PEOPLE WITH PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WHO MAYBE DON'T FEEL VERY SAFE IN D. C. , SO IT IS ALSO A PERSONAL THING WHEN YOU ARE A VICTIM OF A CRIME, YOU MAY FEEL THAT THE CITY IS NO LONGER AS SAFE AS IT ONCE WAS.

>> AND THERE WERE A COUPLE OF ATTACKS THAT HE CITES IN HIS ORDER THAT INVOLVED PEOPLE WHO WERE WORKING ON HIS TEAM.

WELL, I THINK, A FORMER DOGE EMPLOYEE, AND ANOTHER AIDE.

SO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE HE WAS FEELING IT WAS COMING TOO CLOSE TO THE WHITE HOUSE?

>> IS THERE A DANGER MARK -- JUST TAKING A STEP BACK --THE CINCINNATI FIGHT WAS TERRIBLE.

IT WAS CAUGHT ON VIDEO.

BUT, A FIGHT LIKE THAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, FAIRLY REGULARLY.

WE HAVE SEEN "THE NEW YORK POST" PUT FIGHT STADIUMS ON THEIR WEBSITE ALL THE TIME, AND THEY ARE PRETTY NASTY.

IS THERE A DANGER IN PICKING AN ANECDOTAL INCIDENT, A FIGHT CAUGHT ON VIDEO, A HIGH PROFILE PERSON CAUGHT IN A CARJACKING, AND THEN SENDING IN THE NATIONAL GUARD?

>> YEAH, OR GEORGE FLOYD BEING ARRESTED AND DYING IN CUSTODY, AND THEN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY CLAIMING THERE IS STRUCTURAL RACISM BECAUSE OF IT.

ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN TO D. C. , LIVED IN D. C. , LOOKS AT THE STATS, KNOWS THAT D. C. IS NOT A PARTICULARLY SAFE PLACE.

AND IN CINCINNATI, THAT WAS MORE THAN A FIGHT, THAT WAS A BEAT DOWN.

ONE WOMAN WAS COLDCOCKED FROM BEHIND AND THEN WOLVES, SOMEBODY IN THE GRASS KICKING IN THE HEAD, THAT IS AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, THAT IS ATTEMPTED MURDER.

SERIOUS FELONIOUS ACTION.

NOT TWO DRUNK GUYS AT A BALL GAME PUNCHING ONE ANOTHER.

>> BUT, THERE ARE BRAWLS THAT HAPPEN WITHOUT VIDEO CAMERAS, LET'S FACE IT.

THEY ARE WORSE.

>> YEAH, THEY ARE.

>> THERE ARE PLENTY OF THEM.

AND I BELIEVE SOMEBODY WAS CONVICTED OF MURDERING GEORGE FLOYD, SO WE HAVE TO FACT CHECK THAT.

>> SO, THAT NOTION THAT ALL COPS WERE RACIST, IS COMPLETELY CONTRARY.

> >> LET'S GET TO OUR NEXT TOPIC.

SHERROD BROWN MADE IT OFFICIAL THIS WEEK --HE IS RUNNING FOR US SENATE, TAKING ON NEWLY APPOINTED SENATOR JON HUSTED.

>> I DID NOT PLAN TO RUN FOR OFFICE AGAIN, BUT WHEN I SEE WHAT'S GOING ON , I KNOW I CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT FOR OHIO.

THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING FOR SENATE --BECAUSE EVEN IN THESE CHALLENGING TIMES, I STILL BELIEVE IF YOU STAND UP FOR WORKERS, TREAT PEOPLE WITH RESPECT AND ALWAYS FIGHT FOR OHIO, YOU CAN ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> BROWN IS TRYING TO MAKE A COME BACK AFTER LOSING TO BERNIE MORENO LAST FALL BY THREE AND A HALF PERCENTAGE POINTS.

A BRAND NEW POLL SHOWS BROWN HAS SOME WORK TO DO.

AN EMERSON COLLEGE POLL RELEASED FRIDAY, SHOWS JON HUSTED WITH A SIX-POINT LEAD OVER BROWN, WITH 7% UNDECIDED.

JULIE CARR SMYTH, BROWN STILL TRAILS.

>> YES, HE DOES.

OF COURSE, THIS WAS ONLY A COUPLE DAYS AFTER HE ENTERED, SO THAT IS A PIECE OF IT, BUT ALSO, DEMOCRATS ARE REALLY FEELING A LOT OF PUSHBACK FROM THEIR BASE.

THEIR BASE IS UPSET WITH THEM, ALMOST FOR THEIR POLICY STANCES, BUT I THINK A LOT OF WHAT IT IS SHOWING IS FOR THE WAY THEY ARE HANDLING THINGS IN WASHINGTON.

THEY ARE MAYBE NOT BEING AGGRESSIVE ENOUGH TOWARD THE ADMINISTRATION, AND SEEMING KIND OF LACKLUSTER.

SO, IS HE GOING TO SUFFER AS A RESULT OF THAT?

I DON'T KNOW.

>> BUT, THE FEDERAL COURT, THIS IS LIKE THE BUILT IN REPUBLICAN LEAD IN OHIO RIGHT NOW, RIGHT?

BECAUSE WE ARE CERTAINLY A RED STATE NOW.

>> YES, BUT SHERROD BROWN IS A HOUSEHOLD NAME AND JON HUSTED IS NOT.

MOST PEOPLE KNOW WHO SHERROD BROWN IS, HE DOESN'T HAVE A LOT TO MOVE, AND OHIO HAS MOVED RIGHT AS SHERROD BROWN HAS MOVED LEFT, ONE TALLY TO THE LEFT OF BERNIE SANDERS IN THE SENATE, WHEN HE WAS A SOCIALIST.

JON JUST ISN'T AS WELL KNOWN AS SHERROD BROWN, I WAS SURPRISED THAT JON WAS AT 50%, THAT IS REMARKABLE.

>> JON HUSTED, HE IS NOT WELL KNOWN AMONG PROBABLY THE AVERAGE VOTER WHO DOESN'T PAY CLOSE ATTENTION BUT HE HAS BEEN IN OFFICE FOR ALMOST 25 YEARS, NOW.

>> YOU HAVE TO IMAGINE, THOUGH, THAT JON HUSTED HAS MORE NAME I. D. THEN BERNIE MARINO HAS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF IN NORTHEAST OHIO BECAUSE OF COURSE HE HAS A NAME I. D. , THERE.

TO COUNTER MARK'S POINT THAT BROWN HAS MOVED FURTHER AND FURTHER LEFT, I GUESS THE QUESTION I HAD GOING INTO THIS CAMPAIGN CYCLE IS HOW MUCH BROWN FOCUSES ON THESE SOCIAL ISSUES, VERSUS IF HE REALLY LOCKS IN ON TALKING ABOUT WORKERS, WHICH WE KNOW THAT SHERROD BROWN IS GOING TO BE COURTING THAT LABOR UNION SUPPORT.

IT IS ALREADY KIND OF SPLIT HALF WAY.

I THINK THERE WAS ONE UNION THAT CAME OUT AND ENDORSED HUSTED THIS WEEK, ONE BIG UNION, AND ONE THAT ENDORSED BROWN, BUT BROWN REALLY MADE ABORTION A HALLMARK OF HIS CAMPAIGN IN 2024 OFF OF THE HEELS OF ISSUE ONE IN 2023, THAT ABORTION RIGHTS AMENDMENT PASSING.

I'M CURIOUS TO SEE IF HE REPLICATES THAT THIS TIME, BECAUSE THAT DIDN'T WORK LAST TIME.

>> JULIE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE FULL VIDEO, ABOUT TWO AND HALF MINUTES LONG, HE FOCUSES ON WORKERS AND HE ALSO FOCUSES ON HOW HE CLAIMS REPUBLICANS ARE DOING THE BIDDING OF CORPORATE AMERICA BILLIONAIRES.

>> RIGHT, WE ARE GOING TO HEAR THAT THROUGH AND THROUGH.

I THINK ALL OF THE VIDEOS I HAVE BEEN DOING WITH HIM AND OTHER CANDIDATES, THIS IS WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO GO WITH THIS.

AND PARTICULARLY WHAT IS CALLED THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL, IS THE IDEA THAT THAT GAVE TAX BREAKS TO WEALTHY AMERICANS, AND AT THE SAME TIME, CUT CERTAIN PROGRAMS SUCH AS MEDICAID AND OTHERS.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT -- CERTAINLY, REPUBLICANS ARE DEFENDING THAT BILL, MORE THAN DEFENDING IT, THEY ARE CALLING IT THEIR POLICY PLATFORM.

SO, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THEIR ARGUMENTS FOR WHY THEY ARE DOING IT, BUT DEMOCRATS --HE TOLD ME IN AN INTERVIEW THAT YOU KNOW, THIS SOUNDS, TO HIM, LIKE A RIGGED SYSTEM THAT HE HAS BEEN FIGHTING AGAINST.

>> SHERROD BROWN SPEAKS CHALLENGES IN ORDER TO GET DONATIONS AND VOLUNTEERS, HE HAS TO ATTACK TRUMP, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT GAVE HIM THE VOTES THAT PUT HIM OVER THE TOP OVER THE YEARS WERE FROM THE VALLEY, FROM SOME OF THE WORKING-CLASS COUNTIES ALONG THE RIVER AND THE LAKE, AND HE WILL TURN THEM OFF IF HE GOES ANTI-TRUMP, SO HE IS STUCK BETWEEN THE FAR LEFT OF HIS PARTY WHO WANTS HIM TO HATE TRUMP AND THE PEOPLE THAT USED TO VOTE FOR HIM WHEN THEY THOUGHT HE WAS FOR THE WORKING CLASS.

>> HE LOST TO MORENO BY 3 1/2, FOUR POINT AND TRUMP WON THE STATE BY 12 POINTS.

WHEN TRUMP WAS ON THE BALLOT.

TRUMP WILL NOT BE ON THE BALLOT THIS TIME.

WILL THAT HELP SHERROD BROWN, THAT HE IS NOT DIRECTLY COMPETING WITH DONALD TRUMP VOTERS, WHO ONLY COME OUT TO VOTE FOR DONALD TRUMP?

>> SMART QUESTION, I WILL TRY WITH A SMART ANSWER.

IT IS A DIFFERENT SET OF VOTERS THAT VOTE IN THE OFF YEARS AND A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, THEY TEND TO BE MORE CONSERVATIVE.

I PUT IT ON THE RECORD THE OTHER DAY WITH A REPORTER, I WILL SAY IT, BUT BROWN LOST BY EIGHT POINTS WHICH IS BIGGER THAN HIS LEFT MARGIN AND HE WON'T HAVE THE TOP OF THE TICKET TO BLAME.

>> MIKE DEWINE'S APPROVAL RATING IN THIS POLL WAS 32%.

JON HUSTED WAS MIKE DEWINE'S LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

>> YEAH.

>> THERE IS SOME SEPARATION, BUT -- >> I WAS GOING TO SAY, I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SEE --JON HUSTED HAS TO WALK A FINE LINE, TOO, WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SHERROD BROWN AND TRUMP.

JON HUSTED WAS PUT IN THIS POSITION BY GOVERNOR MIKE DeWINE, ALTHOUGH WE JUST TALKED ABOUT HOW DeWINE REALLY CAN'T SAY NO TO TRUMP WHEN HE IS ASKING FOR NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS.

DeWINE HAS SPLINTERED FROM TRUMP ON CERTAIN ISSUES, MAINLY ON THESE ASIAN IMMIGRANTS OUT IN SPRINGFIELD, AND SPRINGFIELD HAS CERTAINLY HAD TO GO TO THE SENATE.

I DON'T THINK HE CAN DIVERGE FROM TRUMP VERY FAR, AND I THINK --YOU KNOW, I AM SURE REPUBLICANS WOULD TELL HIM THAT WOULD BE A MISTAKE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL BUT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ARE SAYING, IT IS NOT GOVERNOR MIKE DEWINE'S REPUBLICAN PARTY ANYMORE, DeWINE HAS NOT YET COME OUT AND ENDORSED VIVEK RAMASWAMY, THE OTHER CANDIDATE WHO IS LIKELY TO BE AT THE TOP OF THE REPUBLICAN BALLOT.

>> I THINK THE MIKE DeWINE ISSUE WILL BE FASCINATING TO WATCH, BECAUSE JON, YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, IF SHERROD GOES TO ATTACK HIM AND TRIES TO LINK HIM WITH AN UNPOPULAR DeWINE, THEN WHAT HAPPENS?

ANY ACT IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, AGAINST GOVERNOR DeWINE, SO I SUSPECT HE WON'T GO THAT ROUTE BUT HE WILL TRY VERY HARD TO MAKE THIS ABOUT OHIO ISSUES.

BECAUSE I THINK DEMOCRATS SEE JON HUSTED AS VULNERABLE FOR HIS VERY LONG RECORD IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, AND PARTICULARLY THAT AND AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND SECRETARY OF STATE, WHEREAS THE DeWINE QUESTION IS JUST A LITTLE TOO MUDDY.

>> WELL, SHERROD BROWN WAS AT THE GROUNDBREAKING WITH JON HUSTED, AND GOVERNOR DeWINE, AND JOE BIDEN, AND EVERYBODY ELSE.

SO, NOBODY CAN PIN THAT ON ANYBODY.

>> YES, KIND OF AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, THERE.

AND I KNOW DONORS WERE BROUGHT INTO THE QUESTION, THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY THAT IS ABOUT TO START FLOWING IN THIS RACE AND HAS ALREADY STARTED FLOWING IN THIS RACE THAT PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THERE IF JON HUSTED WAS REPLACING SOME RANDOM DEMOCRAT OR IF HE WAS REPLACING NO ONE, WHICH I AM SURE IS A POSSIBILITY, BASED ON THE SLATE OF DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES, WHERE WE ARE AT RIGHT NOW.

BUT, I MEAN, YOU SEE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN GROUPS GETTING INVOLVED, CHUCK SCHUMER WAS WORKING SHERROD BROWN HARD TO GET HIM IN THIS RACE, AND SCHUMER'S PAC IS ALREADY SAYING THAT THEY HAVE TO SUPPORT HIM, EVEN THOUGH HE'S NOT AN INCUMBENT AND HE HASN'T WON A PRIMARY, YET.

>> THAT'S TRUE, HE IS THE BEST CANDIDATE BUT HE WILL STILL LOSE THE BASELINE.

>> WE WILL SEE.

THE DEMOCRATIC FIELD FOR GOVERNOR REMAINS UNSETTLED.

FORMER OHIO HEALTH DIRECTOR AMY ACTON IS THE ONLY DECLARED DEMOCRAT, BUT FORMER CONGRESSMAN TIM RYAN MAY RUN.

A SPOKESMAN SAYS RYAN WILL DECIDE BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

THIS WEEK ACTON TOLD WOSU'S AMY JURAVICH SHE'S FOCUSED ON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

>> DO YOU THINK, IF TIM RYAN IS THINKING ABOUT GETTING IN THE RACE, COULD YOU BE HIS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, OR COULD HE BE YOUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?

>> I'M IN THE RACE FOR EVERYTHING.

WE'RE VERY COMPETITIVE.

WE SEE A VERY CLEAR PATH TO VICTORY, AND I'M RUNNING THIS RACE TO BE GOVERNOR.

>> ACTON'S PATH LIKLEY IS A STEEP UPHILL CLIMB.

THAT EMERSON POLL SHOWS HER TRAILING REPUBLICAN VIVEK RAMASWAMY BY 10 POINTS --49% TO 39% --WITH 12% UNDECIDED.

IN THIS RACE, JULIE CARR SMYTH, THAT'S NOT GOOD NEWS FOR AMY ACTON, BUT PERHAPS NOT SURPRISING, SHE IS STILL A NEW FACE.

>> SHE REALLY IS.

AND VIVEK RAMASWAMY HAS BEEN OUT WITH A LOT OF MONEY ALREADY, WITH A LOT OF ADVERTISING.

HE IS ALREADY ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA AND TWITTER, THIS THING IN CINCINNATI, HE GOT INVOLVED IN AND ALL KINDS OF --OR, HE HAD A FORUM FOR THE CITY AND ALL THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO, SHE IS ALSO OUT THERE, BUT I THINK BECAUSE SHERROD HAD BEEN UNDECIDED FOR SO LONG, REALLY, HER ABILITY TO WRAP UP A REALLY WELL-FUNDED OPERATION WAS ON HOLD.

SO, I THINK THERE IS A LOT MORE TO COME FROM HER.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE IN OHIO REMEMBER HER FROM THE PANDEMIC, WHETHER THAT IS GOOD OR BAD, FOR HER, JUST DEPENDS ON THE PERSON.

>> FOR THE PEOPLE WHO IS GOOD, FOR THE PEOPLE WHO REMEMBER THE TIMES OF MASKING AND FAKE SOCIAL DISTANCING, SHE WILL DO WELL, BUT CERTAINLY, CONSERVATIVES DON'T LIKE HER VERY MUCH AND MOST MODERATES AND INDEPENDENTS DON'T LOOK BACK ON JOY DURING THE MANY MISTAKES THAT WERE MADE DURING THAT AND SHE IS THE FACE OF THAT.

AND COMPARING HER TO VIVEK, LET'S REMEMBER VIVEK AS PART OF THIS TREND OF YOUNGER REPUBLICANS THAT ARE WILLING TO GO ANYWHERE AND TAKE ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANYBODY, LIKE HE DID IN CINCINNATI.

HE IS UNAFRAID OF OFF-THE-CUFF SPEAKING.

SHE IS VERY SCRIPTED, VERY CONTROLLED, AND AS A RESULT, I THINK SHE IS GOING TO STUMBLE.

>> THAT IS THE QUESTION WE HAD, GOING IN.

WE SAW HER IN THE LINE WITH DeWINE NEWS CONFERENCES, EMPATHETIC, SORT OF REASSURING DURING THE COVID DAYS, ESPECIALLY EARLY DAYS.

BUT, THEN, SHE HAD TO BECOME A POLITICIAN, SHE HAD TO HAVE TALKING POINTS, WHICH WASN'T REALLY HER, SHE HAD TO HAVE SCRIPTED SPEECHES.

AND THIS APPEARANCE, ON ALL SIDES, SHE SEEMS TO BE DOING A LITTLE BIT BETTER ON THAT, SHE SEEMS TO BE MORE FOCUSED.

>> YEAH, I THINK IT TAKES TIME TO DEVELOP AND TIM RYAN, IF HE DOES CHOOSE TO RUN, HE CERTAINLY HAS HAD MORE EXPERIENCE BEING A POLITICIAN.

I THINK ALSO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, POLICY -WISE, ACTON QUIETLY CLEAR THE OTHER BRINGS BAGGAGE --I WOULD SAY "BAGGAGE," IN SOME WAYS WHEN IT COMES TO COVID AND ON THE FLIPSIDE, RYAN MAY STRUGGLE WITH THE BASE IN SOME REGARDS BECAUSE HE CERTAINLY HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY AND YOU HAVE A SMALL SUBSET OF ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY YOU DON'T SEE THAT AS A GOOD THING.

TIM RYAN REALLY WENT AGAINST JOE BIDEN IN A LOT OF WAYS.

SO, I THINK ESPECIALLY IN DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, I WOULD BE EXCITED TO SEE IT PLAY OUT.

I LOVE A PRIMARY, I LOVE TO COVER A PRIMARY.

>> ARE YOU GOING TO RUN, JULIE?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE.

I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, I FEEL LIKE IF RYAN JUMPS IN, REPUBLICANS ARE JUST GOING TO HAVE A FIELD DAY WITH TWO LOSING REPUBLICANS AT THE TOP OF THEIR TICKET.

>> LOSING DEMOCRATS.

>> DEMOCRATS, I MEAN, AT THE TOP OF THEIR TICKET, BECAUSE THOSE BOTH HAVE LOST IN CLOSE RACES, BUT CERTAINLY IN VERY WELL-PUBLICIZED CAMPAIGNS, IN PEOPLE'S RECENT MEMORIES.

SO, I THINK THAT AMY ACTON HAS THAT ADVANTAGE OF NOT HAVING THAT ON HER RESUME.

>> THE APPROVAL RATING IN OHIO STANDS AT 40%, MARK.

FOR DEMOCRATS TO HAVE ANY CHANCE, TRUMP IS TO BECOME MORE UNPOPULAR BEFORE THE MIDTERM ELECTION, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, HE HAS A VERY DEFINED FLOOR AND DEFINED CEILING.

HE STAYS KIND OF IN THE 40s, I DON'T THINK WE WILL EVER SEE HIM ANYWHERE NEAR 60% AND WE WON'T SEE HIM DOWN NEAR 30%.

PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT TRUMP, PEOPLE KNEW WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT TRUMP EVEN BEFORE HE RAN FOR PRESIDENT AND NOW THEY REALLY KNOW IN HIS SECOND TERM, SO I DON'T THINK HE WILL BE A FACTOR, I DON'T THINK HE WILL PLAY IN THIS RACE.

OHIO IS NOT A SERIOUS SENATE RACE AND THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IS PRETTY WELL SPOKEN FOR.

I DON'T THINK YOU WILL SEE HIM PLAYING IN OHIO AT ALL.

>> WITH THAT INTERVIEW, JULIE, YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, THE TIES TO MIKE DeWINE, SHE WAS ASKED, TWICE, "WAS MIKE DEWINE'S DECISION TO SEND GUARD TROOPS TO D. C. THE RIGHT ONE? "

AND SHE SAID, "I HAVE CONCERNS, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SECOND- GUESS THE GOVERNOR. "

IS THAT RESPONSE GOING TO WIN HER DEMOCRATIC VOTES?

>> [ LAUGHTER ] WELL, AS I HAVE SAID ON THIS SHOW BEFORE, I THINK SHE IS GOING FOR THE KINDER, GENTLER CANDIDATE.

SHE IS TRYING TO BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN OTHER CANDIDATES, AND CERTAINLY, HER BACKGROUND IS IN THE MEDICAL, YOU KNOW, FIELD AND DISEASE, YOU KNOW, SCIENCE.

SO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO WIN DEMOCRATIC VOTES THIS YEAR.

I REALLY DON'T, BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY DISENFRANCHISED.

BUT, ARE THEY GOING TO GO TOWARD THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, OR STAY HOME?

I DON'T KNOW.

>> WELL, AND YOU HEAR FROM SOME DEMOCRATS WHO, IN SOME VERY RARE CASES, SEE GOVERNOR DeWINE AS AN ALLY.

HE HAS VETOED CERTAIN THINGS FOR DEMOCRATS, THE ONES ASKING HIM TO VETO.

SO, HE IS KIND OF A STRANGE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR AT THIS POINT, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS LIKE THAT.

I MEAN, I'M THINKING BACK TO THAT TRANSGENDER AFFIRMING CARE BILL THAT HE VETOED.

>> BUT, HE IS ALSO VERY MUCH OPPOSED TO ABORTION RIGHTS, WHICH WOULD NOT GET HIM ANY DEMOCRATIC VOTES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BUT, IN A RED STATE, AT THIS POINT, THE STATE IS RED, YOU WOULD THINK THE CATS WOULD PREFER DeWINE TO RAMASWAMY, BUT I DON'T KNOW.

>> WELL, POTENTIALLY --WHO WOULD PREFER DeWINE TO RAMASWAMY?

WE WILL SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT.

> >> RIGHT NOW, TEXAS AND CALIFORNIA ARE DRAWING THE NATION'S ATTENTION IN A MID- CYCLE REDISTRICTING FIGHT.

TEXAS IS MOVING AHEAD WITH ITS NEW MAP DESIGNED TO FLIP SOME DEMOCRATIC SEATS REPUBLICAN.

CALIFORNIA IS MOVING FORWARD TO TEMPORARILY SCRAP ITS VOTER APPROVED REDISTRICTING REFORM EFFORT, TO PICK UP DEMOCRATIC SEATS.

OHIO'S FIGHT LOOMS.

WE HAVE NOT HEARD MUCH FROM THE MAP MAKERS WHO WILL HAVE TO DRAW NEW DISTRICTS BEFORE A FALL DEADLINE.

THE THINKING IS REPUBLICANS WILL TRY TO TURN AT LEAST TWO OF THE FIVE DEMOCRATIC SEATS INTO REPUBLICANS SEATS.

OKAY, MARK, STEPPING BACK, THIS IS BLATANT, OPENLY POLITICAL GERRYMANDERING.

>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CALIFORNIA?

>> CALIFORNIA AND TEXAS.

AND NEW YORK IS NEXT, APPARENTLY, AND INDIANA, AND WHOEVER.

>> THERE IS A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE.

GERRYMANDERING IS GERRYMANDERING AND DRAWING LINES IS POLITICAL, IT IS INHERENTLY POLITICAL.

BUT, WHAT TEXAS AND OHIO ARE DOING ARE WITHIN THOSE STATE LAWS OF TEXAS AND OHIO.

WHAT CALIFORNIA IS SUGGESTING DOING IS TOSSING OUT THE STATE LAW, JUST TEMPORARILY TOSSING OUT THE LAW, AND I DON'T THINK THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT MANY MORE SEATS.

IF YOU THINK OF CALIFORNIA AS A BIG TUB OF ICE CREAM, THEY HAVE SCRAPED MOST OF THE SCOOPS OF DEMOCRATIC SEATS OUT.

IT WILL BE VERY HARD TO DO IT, THAT IS NOT TRUE IN TEXAS, NOT TRUE IN OHIO.

OHIO COULD BE 12-3, IT COULD BE 13-2, THAT WOULD BE REALLY HARD.

IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT THE SUPREME COURT SAYS THIS FALL ABOUT WHETHER RACIAL GERRYMANDERING VIOLATES THE 14th AMENDMENT.

BECAUSE RACIAL GERRYMANDERING HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE COURTS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES, STARTING THE TIME WHEN RACE WAS THE BIG ISSUE IN DRAWING LINES, RACE HAS NOT BEEN THE BIG ISSUE IN DRAWING LINES COME IN MANY YEARS.

>> TO BE CLEAR, THOUGH, ON MARK'S POINT, OHIO IS THE ONLY STATE THAT ACTUALLY HAS TO READ RESTRICT AT ALL.

TEXAS IS KIND OF AT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S BEHEST, BUT OHIO WAS ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE TO REDISTRICT THIS FALL, BECAUSE OHIO LAWMAKERS COULD NOT COME TO BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT ON THE CONGRESSIONAL MAPS IN 2021.

>> JULIE, WELL, HOW MUCH PRESSURE WILL OHIO LAWMAKERS -- THE ONES WHO DRAW THE MAPS -- BE UNDER BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION?

>> [ LAUGHTER ] MASSIVE PRESSURE.

THEY WILL BE UNDER MASSIVE PRESSURE.

THEY ARE REQUIRED TO DO THIS.

THEY ALREADY WANT TO DO --TO DO A MAP THAT IS GOING TO BENEFIT REPUBLICANS.

BUT, I DO THINK THAT ANYBODY WHO IS DEALING WITH A CONGRESSIONAL MAPS THIS YEAR IS UNDER MASSIVE PRESSURE, AND SOME OF IT IS BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT VOTERS ARE GOING TO THINK A YEAR FROM NOW ABOUT DONALD TRUMP.

YOU KNOW, NORMALLY, IT WOULD NOT BE THE PARTY IN THE WHITE HOUSE IS YEAR, SO THEREFORE, I THINK DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO TOE FOR IT AND REPUBLICANS ARE SHOWING THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO TAKE THESE PROCESSES AND MORPH THEM.

>> WITH THE LAW ALLOW FOR MORE THAN THREE DEMOCRATIC SEATS, DOWN TO TWO DEMOCRATIC SEATS, EVEN MORE THAN THAT?

>> YES, IT WILL TRIGGER ANOTHER FIVE-YEAR MAP, WHICH WE HAVE ANYWAY BECAUSE THE CENSUS IS COMING UP.

BUT REMEMBER, THERE ARE TWO WEAK INCUMBENTS UNDER THESE LINES.

LANGSTON, RIGHT ON THE EDGE.

JOYCE BEATTY, AND CHANTEL BROWN I THINK OUR SECURE WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO BE.

THIS COULD BE A 13-2 MAP, COULD BE A 12-3.

THERE WILL BE MORE REPUBLICAN SEATS COMING OUT, JUST BECAUSE OHIO IS GETTING MORE REPUBLICAN.

>> CHANTEL BROWN SHE IS THE LONGEST-SERVING MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

>> YEAH, SHE STARTED IN THE HOUSE, WHEN DINOSAURS ROAMED THE EARTH.

YOU DON'T GET THERE BY BEING A WEAK CANDIDATE.

>> BY "WE," I THINK YOU MEAN THAT SHE WON BY A SLIM MARGIN, BUT SHE HAS WON MANY, MANY TIMES.

>> THEY WILL MAKE IT MUCH MORE COMPETITIVE FOR HER AND PEOPLE ARE NOT THRILLED WITH THE FOLKS IN WASHINGTON AT ALL.

>> IT WAS COMPETITIVE LAST TIME AROUND, BUT SHE ONLY WON BY ONE OR TWO POINTS.

> >> ANYWAY TIME FOR OUR FINAL OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOTS.

MARK WEAVER?

WHAT YOU GOT, FIRST?

>> I HAVE BEEN ADVISING CANDIDATES FOR THE SUPREME COURT SINCE 1990, SINCE THE 1880S.

THERE IS LIKELY TO BE ONE NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY MAY NOT ENDORSE THE BASE WE WANT TO ENDORSE, WE MAY HAVE SEVERAL CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR SUPREME COURT.

>> JULIE?

>> I AM HERE TO PREDICT I THINK THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS WILL GO ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF NOVEMBER.

THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT DEADLINES THAT WE ARE GOING TO HIT BEFORE THEM BUT I JUST THINK IT IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER BRUTAL ONE.

>> GOODIE!

>> [ LAUGHTER ] >> I'M REALLY SICK OF POLITICS, BUT I'M JUST HERE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT I AM REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT BUCKEYE SAWYER DOES FOR FOOTBALL.

> >> ANYWAY, THIS WEEK, OHIO STATE BANNED STUDENTS AND OTHERS FROM CHALKING ITS CAMPUS SIDEWALKS.

NO MORE POLITICAL STATEMENTS.

NO MORE STUDENT GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGN MESSAGES.

NO MORE PARTY INVITATIONS WRITTEN IN SIDEWALK CHALK.

THE UNIVERSITY SAYS, THE CHALKING VIOLATES THE UNIVERSITY SIGNAGE STANDARDS WHICH IS A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF BUILDING, PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICULAR WAY FINDING SIGNAGE, DESIGNED TO CREATE A CONSISTENT EXPERIENCE FOR INFORMATION NEEDED WHEN NAVIGATING OHIO STATE CAMPUSES.

MAKES PERFECT SENSE.

SO, I ASSUME THAT STANDARD WILL BE APPLIED CONSISTENTLY THIS NOVEMBER, WHEN STUDENTS WANT TO PUT RED DUCT TAPE OVER EVERY "M" ON EVERY OSU SIGN.

CONSISTENT WAYFINDING SHOULD PREVAIL DURING MICHIGAN WEEK.

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

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FOR OUR CREW, I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.