>>> OMICRON FIGHTS COVID IN OHIO AND LESSONS FROM JANUARY 6th.

♪ >> JOINING US ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK, STATE HOUSE REPORTER.

AND REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST AND JOSEPH MAUTS OF THE OHIO HISPANIC COALITION.

COVID'S OMICRON VARIANT CONTINUES TO SPREAD AROUND OHIO, CAUSING LOTS OF PROBLEMS.

THE STATE IS SEEING THE SHARPEST SPIKE IN CASES.

LAST WEEK OHIO'S COVID RATE WAS 1800 CASES PER 100,000.

THREE MONTHS AGO 350 PER 100,000 THE GOOD NEWS IS THE HOSPITALIZATION RATE HAS NOT RISEN NEARLY AS SHARPLY.

BUT OHIO HOSPITALS DO HAVE LOTS OF COVID PATIENTS.

THEY REMAIN WITH ONE OF THE HIGHEST HOSPITALIZATION RATES.

THE SPREAD IS FORCING SOME SCHOOLS TO GO TO REMOTE LEARNING.

RESTAURANTS HAVE HAD TO CUT HOURS, DMV OFFICES HAVE HAD TO CLOSE.

AND THE BIG STORY THIS WEEK SEEMED TO BE THE RETURN OF STUDENTS TO SCHOOL.

SOME SCHOOLS HAD TO GO REMOTE LEARNING AGAIN.

OTHERS GO DAY BY DAY.

WHAT'S THE STATE'S FEELING ON WHAT THEY SHOULD DO TO HELP IN CLASSROOMS RIGHT NOW?

>> I KNOW THE GOVERNOR HAS RECOMMENDED THAT CLASS ROOMS USE MASKS OR HAVE MASKS.

THAT HASN'T BEEN A REQUIREMENT BUT SOMETHING THEY'RE SUGGESTING.

I THINK DIFFERENT SCHOOLS ARE EETH RBER DELAYING GOING BACK OR DOING SOMEWHAT REMOTE IS ONE OPTION THEY'RE TAKING.

A LOT OF PEOPLE GOT TOGETHER AROUND THE HOLIDAYS.

I KNOW ANECDOTALLY MORE PEOPLE I KNOW HAVE TESTED POSITIVE.

AND SO, YOU'RE JUST SEEING MORE OF THE SPREAD WHEN EVERYBODY GOT TOGETHER.

BACK TO JOBS AND SCHOOL AND SO FORGTS AND YOU'RE JUST SEEING THE CASE NUMBERS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER.

>> PARTICULAR SCHOOL, WHY AREN'T MORE SCHOOLS ISSUING A MASK MANDATE TO TRY TO KEEP THE KIDS IN THE CLASSROOM?

>> I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHY NOT.

I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE SENSITIVE ABOUT THE TOPIC OF MANDATES IN GENERAL.

BUT IT WOULD BE THE WISE THING TO DO OR COMBINATION OF INCREASED TESTING.

IT SEEMS TO BE THAT THE MORE TESTING WE HAVE, CERTAINLY THE MORE POSITIVE RESULTS WE HAVE.

AND THEN IT THROWS EVERYTHING BACK INTO CHAOS.

NEVERTHELESS, WE CAN'T AVOID THE REALITY, THE TRUTH THAT THE VIRUS IS AMONG US AND THE KIDS CAN GET INFECTED.

>> YOU'VE BEEN OPPOSED TO MANDATES FROM THE GET GO.

THIS SEEMS TO BE SPREADING FAST.

AND AT LEAST THE HOSPITALIZATIONS AREN'T AS HIGH, AREN'T SPIKING AS SHARPLY.

AND FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTAND, THE FOLKS COMING INTO THE HOSPITALS WITH COVID AREN'T AS SICK.

SO, WHAT SHOULD, IF ANYTHING, SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT DO FROM THIS POINT ON, IF WE CONTINUE TO SEE SPIKES IN CASES AND WE CONTINUE TO SEE SCHOOLS HAVING TO GO REMOTE?

>> I HOPE SCHOOLS DON'T GO REMOTE.

THERE'S A BIG STORY IN THE "THE NEW YORK TIMES" THIS PAST WEEK THAT TALKS ABOUT THE HARMFUL EFFECTS ON SCHOOL AND WE NEED TO STOP DOING REMOTE LEARNING.

BUT AS RELATES TO A SPIKE IN CASES, WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE GETTING COVID IS SOMETHING THAT EVEN THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION SAYS THE OMICRON VARIANT, STUFFY NOSE, FEVER, HEADACHES.

YOU CAN TAKE NIQUILL FOR THAT.

SO, WHEN PEOPLE ARE GETTING COVID, WE'RE DOING THIS IN MY HOUSE.

I HAVE SEVERAL OF MY SON'S FRIENDS WITH COVID.

TOMORROW'S THEIR FIFTH DAY.

SATURDAY OR SUNDAY, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ON MY SON'S TRAMPOLINE.

WE SHOULD KEEP AN EYE ON HOSPITALIZATIONS.

DEATHS ARE WAY DOWN, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

I'M NOT AS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AS OTHERS ARE.

>> OMICRON IS HERE AND IT'S NOT AS SEVERE AND IF YOU'RE VACCINATED, ALL THE DATA SHOWS YOU'RE VERY SAFE.

SO, ARE WE AT A POINT WHERE WE SAY YOU CHOOSE WHETHER YOU GET VACCINATED OR NOT AND THE RAES OF US ARE GOING TO LIVE OUR LIVES THE WAY WE WANT TO?

>> I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO BE AT THAT PARTICULAR SPOT IN HISTORY BUT RILTSDSER WHERE WE ARE, WHEN IT COMES TO THE RESISTANCE WE'RE SEEING.

I'M SURPRISED MY FRIEND MIKE TOOK THE POSITION OF IT'S NOT PARTICULARLY SERIOUS.

GOD BLESS HIM.

MIKE'S A LOT YOUNGER THAN I AM AND I THINK THE NEIGHBOR SDWHZ KIDS ARE AS WELL.

BUT FOR PEOPLE PERHAPS IMMUNO COMPROMISED, AS AM I, AND PERHAPS HAVE OTHER CONDITIONS, IT'S NOT A GOOD THING TO HAVE YOUR GRANDCHILDREN OR KIDS BE RUNNING AROUND AND GETTING YOU INFECTED.

SO, STREE BE CAREFUL WITH HOW, AND IN WHAT ENVIRONMENT, WE ALLOW THAT KIND OF CONTACT.

I THINK THAT THE OMICRON VARIANT IS DOING WHAT INOCULATIONS OR AT LEAST THE CHOICE TO GET VACCINATED HAS NOT.

AND THAT IS EXPOSE PEOPLE TO A VARIANT THAT IN MANY CASES MAY NOT BE AS SERIOUS.

I THINK THE DATA IS STILL OUT ON THAT.

>> OSU IS BASICALLY URGING THE CLASSROOM, EXCEPT FOR CLASSES, TO SHUT DOWN PUBLIC EVENTS, EXCEPT ATHLETIC EVENTS, NAMELY COLLEGE BASKETBALL.

YOU CAN'T DRINK A BEER.

YOU CAN'T TAKE YOUR MASK OFF TO GET A BEER OR COKE IN THE STANDS.

WHY NOT MANDATE EVERYONE SHOW A VACCINE CARD?

WOULDN'T THAT KEEP PEOPLE AS SAFE AS NOT SELLING NACHOS?

>> THE STATE LAW PROHIBITS THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY.

>> THEY MANDATE VACCINES FOR STAFF.

>> THEY WON'T PROHIBIT THAT TYPE OF ACTIVITY REQUIRING VACCINE CARD.

THEY ARE STILL SELLING BOTTLED WATER.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'RE GOING TO DRINK BOTTLED WATER WITH A MASK ON.

WE'RE IN A SILLY SEASON AS RELATES TO THAT.

IF THE VIRUS IS SO BAD, THEY SHOULDN'T BE PLAYING COLLEGE BASKETBALL.

BUT WE KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO PLAY WITH FANS IN THE STANDS, PULL OUT 20,000 PEOPLE.

I WAS LAST WEEK WITH MY FAMILY IN FLORIDA, SEAWORLD, SO ON AND SO FORTH.

HERE WE ARE LIVING OUR LIVES.

THE VACCINE IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT YOU FROM COVID.

SO, THOSE THAT NEED IT SHOULD GET IT.

I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE, IF YOU'RE IMMUNE COMPROMISED, PLEASE GET THE VACCINES.

IF OTHERS DON'T WANT TO GET IT, THAT'S THEIR CHOICE.

RRS WE HAVE TO LIVE OUR LIVES.

I CAN'T FIND AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT REQUIRES MASKS.

>> BUT CASES HAVE BEEN HIGHER IN THE MORE RURAL AREAS AND STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THE RATE OF DEATHS IS MUCH HIGHER IN RURAL COUNTIES IN OHIO.

OUR NEXT TOPIC.

TIME WELL TELL IF JANUARY 6th WILL BE COMPAREABLE TO DECEMBER 7th AND 11th.

SOME REPUBLICANS PUT THE INSURRECTION IN THE SAME CATEGORY AS PEARL HARBOR AND THE TERRORIST ATTACK.

PRESIDENT BIDEN FORCEFULLY LAID THE BLAME FOR THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM, FIRMLY ON PRESIDENT TRUMP WHO CONTINUES TO LIE ABOUT THE 2020 ELECTION.

QUOTE, TRUMP'S WEB OF LIES HOLDS A DAGER TO THE THROAT OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.

VERY FEW REPUBLICANS JOINED IN THE COMMEMORATION AND ACCUSE DEMOCRATS OF TRYING TO DIVIDE THE COUNTRY.

LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES, FOR THE MOST PART, STRONGLY CONDEMNED THE INSURRECTION AND THE VIOLENCE AT THE CAPITOL.

WHY THIS YEAR DO REPUBLICANS SORT OF IGNORE IT, MOST RCHBS ANYWAY?

>> DEMOCRATS HAVE WEAPONIZED TO THEIR BENEFIT.

GOING ON NATIONAL TV, THE -- LOOK, I'M A LAW AND ORDER GUY.

ANYONE WHO COMMITTED A CRIME AT OUR NATION'S CAPITOL SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH THAT CRIME AND PROSECUTED IF FOUND GUILTY OR INNOCENT.

BUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE BLACK LIVES MATTER RIOTS TLULT THE YEAR WITH 25 DEATHS, $2 BILLION WORTH OF PROPERTY DAMAGE.

NO PROSECUTOR WILL PROSECUTE THOSE CASES.

WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE SAY WHY ON THE ONE HAND AND NOT ON THE OTHER.

IF ANYONE COMMITTED A CRIME AT OUR NATION'S CAPITOL, THEY SHOULD BE PROSECUTED.

IS THIS PEARL HARBOR?

THAT'S OFFENSIVE TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO LOST THEIR LIVES WHEN WE WERE ATTACKED DURING WORLD WAR II.

THE DEMOCRATS, I THINK THE AVERAGE AMERICANS CAN SEE THEY'RE TRYING TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS.

IT'S A DARK DAY IN OUR HISTORY BUT NOT A DAY LIKE 9/11 OR PEARL HARBOR.

>> IS IT FAIR TO COMPARE WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CAPITOL TO WHAT HAPPENED IN THE RACIAL JUSTICE PROTESTS.

THIS IS AN ATTACK THAT INTERRUPTED THE CERTIFICATION OF THE VOELTS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

IS THAT A FALSE COMPARISON TO COMPARE TO THE PROTESTS IN PORTLAND?

>> I THINK THEY'RE VERY SAME AND SIMILAR.

VIOLENCE OCCURRED, WINDOWS WERE BROKEN, ITEMS TAKEN.

IN PORTLAND, A FIRE WAS SET IN THE FEDERAL BUILDING AS WELL.

WE TAKE OUT WHO WAS DOING THE WORK A TRUMP SUPPORTER VERSES AN TEEFAU OR LIBERAL GROUP, IT'S THE SAME.

SO, LET'S TREAT THE SAME AND THAT'S THE BEST WAY AMERICANS WILL FEEL CONFIDENT AND COMFORTABLE IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> DID DEMOCRATS GO TOO FAR?

THEY HAD THE BIG SPEECHES AND COMMEMORATIONS ALL DAY.

SOME WERE CANCELLED BECAUSE OF COVID.

THEY TRIED TO MAKE IT AN ALL-DAY EVENT FOR THIS ANNIVERSARY.

IT WAS SERIOUS BUT ALSO THE TONE OF A POLITICAL EVENT, PERHAPS NOR THAN A COMMEMORATION OF 9/11.

>> I THINK IT WAS IN RESPONSE TO THE FACT THAT A YEAR HAS GONE BY AND WE CERTAINLY HAVE A SERIOUS AND ONGOING INVESTIGATION.

MY CONGRESS BUT WENT REALLY SEEN THE RESULTS OF THAT.

EXCEPT EVERY NOW AND THEN I SEE A SNIPPET ON THE NEWS.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY RESULTS YET.

I THINK THE PRESIDENT AND OTHER DEMOCRATS WANTED TO LET IT BE KNOWN THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG.

AND THERE IS A VAST DIFFERENCE AS I THINK YOU IMPLY BETWEEN THE DEMONSTRATIONS AS FAR AS BY THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT, LAST YEAR AND WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CAPITOL.

IN ONE, IT WAS INSPIRED BY A TRUE EVENT.

THE MURDER OF AN INDIVIDUAL, WE ALL SAW IT ON THE VIDEO.

AND IN THE OTHER ONE, [ INAUDIBLE ] AND AS FAR AS BEING POLITICIZED.

IT IS NOT POLITICIZING SOMETHING TO DEMONSTRATE TO THE NATION THE AIRARDS COMMITTED BY THE OTHER SIDE AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM.

>> JESSY BALMER, IT WAS NEWS FOR THREE DAYS THIS PAST WEEK.

IF YOU TURN ON THE NEWS, CABLE TV NEWS, YOU SEE THE IMAGES AGAIN.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN THEM ALL THAT OFTEN SINCE THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AFTER THAT.

BUT DO YOU THINK THOSE IMAGES WILL LAST AND THE MEMORIES OF OHIOENS OR IS IT JUST THIS WEEK'S NEWS AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO SOMETHING ELSE?

>> I THINK IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT EVENT.

I THINK THAT THE IMAGES -- ANYTIME YOU SEE THE CAPITOL WITH PEOPLE RAN SACKING IT OR WHERE INJURIES OR PEOPLE WHO DIED THERE, I THINK THOSE ARE ARRESTING IMAGES AND IT'S WORTH TAKING NOTE OF THEM.

BUT IS IT SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DISCUSS EVERY DAY FOR THE NEXT YEAR?

I DOUBT IT.

>> JESSE, THIS U.S. SENATE CANDIDATES, ONE OF THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR U.S. SENATE, SAY, TO SOME DEGREE, THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN.

JD VANCE, JOSH MANDEL BEING THE TWO MOST VOCAL SAYING THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN.

IS THAT GOING TO BE -- REPUBLICANS WON'T HOLD THAT AGAINST THEM BUT IT MIGHT BE HELD AGAINST THEM IN THE GENERAL.

>> YOU KNOW, TIME IS GOING TO TELL.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING WHO COMES OUT OF THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY AND WHAT REPUBLICANS WANT TO PUT FORWARD AS THEIR CANDIDATE.

I THINK, CERTAINLY AS YOU REFERENCED STATE REPRESENTATIVE OR STATE SENATOR MATT DOLAN IS TAKING A DIFFERENT TACT.

HE'S NOT REALLY A -- GOING AFTER THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT.

NEARLY EVERYONE ELSE IS BECAUSE THAT'S GENERALLY A VALUABLE ENDORSEMENT IN THE STATE OF OHIO STILL.

SO, YOU'RE SEEING RHETORIC FROM CERTAIN CANDIDATE AND WHO THEY FEEL BEST REPRESENT THEM IN THE MAY RACE.

>> WOULD-BE CANDIDATES STOP SAYING THAT WHEN WHOEVER GETS THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT?

>> WHO KNOWS.

TRUMP WON OHIO NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE.

OHIO VOTERS SUPPORT PRESIDENT TRUMP.

OBVIOUSLY NOT EVERYBODY.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU HAVE TO WIN A PRIMARY TO WIN A GENERAL ELECTION.

THE REPUBLICANS ARE DOING THE SAME THING DEMOCRATS ARE DOING.

SAME LINE AND THE OTHER INDIVIDUAL, MORGAN HARPER, THEY'RE PLAYING TO THE BASE, THE LIBERAL BASE ON THE DEMOCRATS SIDE AND THE CONSERVATIVE BASE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER ELECTION YEAR.

THERE'S CLAIMS TO BE MADE BUT I CAN GUARANTEE OHIO WON FAIR AND SQUARE AND DID A GREAT JOB WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

>> PEOPLE RUNNING FOR SENATE ARE VERY SMART BUSINESS PEOPLE.

THEY HAVE LONG TENURES IN POLITICS.

THEY'RE YUGSED TO LOOKING AT DATA OBJECTIVELY AND MAKING A DECISION.

DO PEOPLE REALLY BELIEVE THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN FROM DON DON?

DO YOU BELIEVE THEY REALLY BELIEVE THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I'M NOT ON THEIR CAMPAIGN KITCHEN CABINET.

BUT I HOPE WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS SOMETHING THEY BELIEVE IN, OTHERWISE THAT WOULD MAKE THEM A PHONEY CANDIDATE.

I'M GOING TO ASSUME THAT'S WHAT THEY BELIEVE BECAUSE THALTZ WHAT THEY'RE PUTTING OTLUT.

WHETHER IT'S TRUE OR NOT, IT'S NOT STOLEN IN OHIO.

IT WAS FAIR AND SQUARE.

>> 48 FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN CHARGED IN THE INSURRECTION ARE FROM OHIO.

HOW DOES THIS STORY LAST IN OHIO SNL WHAT IS THE END RESULT?

ARE YOU WORRIED AN INSURRECTION COULD HAPPEN AGAIN?

>> NOT WORRIED THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN HERE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT I'M LESS WORRIED ABOUT THAT KIND OF SITUATION INFLUENCING OUTCOMES THAN I AM ANYTHING ELSE.

WHAT I AM WORRIED ABOUT, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH IS WHAT MIKE ELUDED TO AND THAT IS WE SEEM TO HAVE LOST CONTACT WITH REALITY.

AND WE HAVE DIFFICULTY DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN WHAT IS THE TRUTH AND WHAT IS NOT.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE ARE REAL CHALLENGE LIES.

>> OUR NEXT TOPIC.

REMEMBER IN 2018 WHEN THE TWO LEADING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR DECIDED TO TEAM UP?

JOHN HOUSTON STEPPED BACK TO BE MIKE DEWINE'S RUNNING MATE.

LOOKS LIKE THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN THIS TIME WITH THE FORMER DEMOCRAT SAID RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

NAMED COUNSEL MEMBER CHERYL STEVENS AS HER PICK FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ON THE SAME DAY FORMER CINCINNATI MAYOR NAMED TERESA FELTER FROM TOLEDO AS HIS RUNNING MATE.

WE'LL GET TO THE RUNNING MATES IN A MOMENT.

BUT WHAT ARE THE CHANCES -- HOWEVER SLIM THE CHANCES WERE, MIGHT DEMOCRATS REGRET HAVING THESE TWO STRONG CANDIDATES NOT TEAM UP?

>> I THINK THAT EVEN THOSE CANDIDATES THEMSELVES WOULD AGREE THAT PERHAPS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE CASE.

BUT I DO THINK EACH ONE OF THEM LOOKED INSIDE THEIR HEART AND SAID LOOK, I WANT TO GO FOR THE TOP SPOT.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, HE MAY HAVE SAID THAT AND THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE GO INTO PUBLIC OFFICE FOR.

AND GOD BLESS THEM THAT THEY'VE GOT THE COURAGE TO DO SO.

AND EACH ONE WANTS TO BE GOVERNOR AND THAT'S IT.

>> JESSY BALMER, GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY IN THE PICKS.

JOE STEVENS IS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN FROM NORTHEAST OHIO.

OBVIOUSLY THESE TWO CANDIDATES ARE TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM SOUTHWEST OHIO FOR THEIR RUNNING MATES.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU SEE IN THESE PICKS?

>> BOTH ARE WOMEN.

THAT PROVIDES GENDER DIVERSITY ON THAT TICKET AS WELL.

THEY'RE LOOKING ON CRANLEY'S TICKET, SOMEONE WHO HAS STATE GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE.

SHE'S BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR A COUPLE, ALMOST DECADES NOW.

CHERYL STEVENS, YOU'RE GETTING ANOTHER PERSON WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE.

I WOULD SAY PROBABLY NEITHER NAME IS WELL KNOWN TO VOTERS.

SO, YOU'RE NOT GAINING ANY NAME RECOGNITION FOR THAT.

THERE'S PROS AND CONS TO THE PICKS.

TO JOE'S POINT EARLIER, EVERYBODY LOVES PRIMARIES WHEN THEY HAVE ONE AND LOVED NOT HAVING ONE WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE ONE.

THERE'S PROS AND CONS TO EACH.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THESE PICKS?

WOULD THE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN A TOUGHER FIGHT HAD EITHER BEENT THE TOP OF THE TICKET AND THE OTHER AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?

>> EVEN IF THEY TEAMED UP, IT WOULDN'T MAKE THEM MORE FORMIDABLE.

SPOILER ALERT, THE EVERY SINGLE POLL FROM U.S.A. TODAY TO MSNBC SHOWS THE PRESIDENT'S APPROVE RATINGS IN THE TANK.

GOING TO BE A GOOD YEAR HISTORICALLY FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

WE'RE IN A RED STATE.

DEMOCRATS HAVE ZERO CHANCE.

I'M GOING TO CALL IT AND YOU CAN JUDGE ME LATER ON IT.

BUT THESE PICKS THAT BOTH NOMINEES MADE THIS PAST WEEK ISN'T GOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE BECAUSE NO ONE KNOWS WHO THEY ARE TO BEGIN WITH.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY AND NAME I.D.

AND WE'RE LESS THAN A YEAR OUT FROM THE ELECTION.

MIKE DEWINE WILL PROBABLY HAVE A STIFF TIME IN THE PRIMARY BUT DO QUITE WELL IN THE GENERAL.

>> AND A CUPM OF FORMER LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

THAT WOULD MAKE THE PRIMARY MORE CROWDED.

HOW SERIOUS ARE THEY?

>> THAT'S HARDER TO TELL.

I KNOW FORMER REPRESENTATIVE TELLER AND RON HOOD ARE GATHERING SIGNATURES, WHICH IS THE PROCESS YOU NEED TO GO TO IF YOU WERE TO GET ON THE BALLOT.

WHETHER THEY'LL PULL THE TRIGGER AND DO IT IS ANOTHER DECISION ENTIRELY.

BUT IT HELPS MIKE DEWINE, EVERY CANDIDATE FOR REPUBLICAN PRIMARY BECAUSE THERE ARE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OAF REPUBLICAN VOTERS WHO ARE NOT HAPPY WITH MIKE DEWINE LATER.

THEY WERE UNHAPPY BEFORE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

AND SO THE MORE YOU DIVIDE THAT ANTIDEWINE VOTE, THE BETTER OFF IT IS FOR THE INCUMBENTS.

>> I WAS WONDERING IF THEY WOULD BE RECRUITING THE CANDIDATES.

THE MORE YOU SPLIT THE VOTE, THE BETTER CHANCE HE GETS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

AND YOU HAVE -- MAYBE CANDICE KELLER IN THE RACE.

ANALYTICS WILL DEMONSTRATE THAT DEWINE IS GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN A PRIMARY AS WELL.

I THINK -- THE QUESTION IS, IS HE GOING TO ENGAGE IN THE PRIMARY OR TAKE THE HIGH ROAD AND NOT DO ANYTHING AND THREAT VOTERS DECIDE ON PRIMARY DAY?

THAT'S THE EXCITING ISSUE FOR POLITICAL JUNKIES LIKE US.

>> WITH A LITTLE MORE THAN THREE WEEKS BEFORE THE CANDIDATE FILING DEADLINE, LAWMAKERS AND WANNABE LAWMAKERS DON'T KNOW WHO THEIR VOTERS ARE GO TEEING BE.

THEY'RE WAITING FOR DEMOCRATS TO CHALLENGE THE DISTRICTING MAPS CLAIMING THEY UNCONSTITUTIONALLY FAVOR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.

REPUBLICAN LEADERS SAY THEY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF A RECENTLY PASSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHEN THE COURT DECISION AND DECISIONS, IF IT SEPARATES, WILL COME DOWN?

>> I THINK WE'RE GOING IT GET A DECISION PRETTY SOON.

AND WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR SEVERAL WEEKS NOW.

THE REASON WHY YOU'VE BEEN WAITING IS THESE ARE COMPLICATED DECISIONS.

I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO BE A DIVIDED COURT NO MATTER WHAT WE GET.

THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO BE TRYING TO CLARIFY WHAT THE APPROVED CHANGES MEANT TO THE OHIO CONSTITUTION AND GIVE SOME GUIDANCE GOING FORWARD.

AND THAT WILL INFORM HOW THESE MAPS ARE DRAWN FOR DECADES.

THAT'S WHY THEY'RE TAKING SOME TIME ON IT.

>> WE LOOK THUGTER FEW FOLKS.

HOW DO YOU THINK THIS DECISION WILL COME DOWN?

>> I DO THINK IT WILL COME DOWN FAIRLY SOON AND I THINK IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THAT CLOSE.

I HAPPEN TO THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT FIVE TO TWO AND I DO THINK THAT THE CHIEF JUSTICE WILL COME DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THOSE WHO WILL BE COMMISSIONED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS THING AGAIN AND THAT BRINGS US TO THE TOPIC, WHICH IS WHAT'S THE SOLUTION?

WHO IS IT THAT GETS TO NOW LOOK AT THIS THING AGAIN?

BUT IT APPEARS THE CONSENSUS IS IT GOES BACK TO FRUITION.

>> DO YOU THINK ONE OR ALL OF THESE MAPS GETS REJECTED BY THE OHIO SUPREME COURT?

>> THERE'S PEOPLE THAT TRY TO DO MAKE A CAREER OUT OF WHAT THE SUPREME COURT IS GOING TO DO FEDERALLY.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A 4-3 DECISION, I SUSPECT.

ONE WAY OR THE OTHER WE'LL SEE WHERE MARINE GOES.

SHE'LL PROBABLY BE THE SWING VOTE.

THE MAP IS GOING TO BE SAME OR SIMILAR TO WHAT IT IS.

THE CONSTITUTION IS WHAT THE GUIDING POST IS FOR THE COMMISSION.

NOT THE SUPREME COURT, THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

AND I'VE READ THE CONSTITUTION AND THE AMENDMENT THE VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY PASSED.

AND THEY HAVE TO MASSAGE BOUNDARIES AND LINES AND OFF WE GO.

>> YOU KNOW, WE ARE THREE WEEKS AND A FEW DAYS AWAY FROM THE FILING DEADLINE.

SO, IF THEY ARE REJECTED, THE LEGISLATURE HAS TO GO BACK AND DRAW NEW MAPS, MY GUESS IS THEY MAYBE HAVE STARTED THE PROCESS IN CASE SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO START FROM SCRATCH?

>> THE OHIO DISTRICTING COMMISSION WOULD HAVE TO REDRAW THE MAPS FOR THE STATE, HOUSE AND SENATE MAPS AND IF THE CONGRESSIONAL MAPS WERE OVERTURNED, THAT WOULD BE THE OHIO LEGISLATURE WOULD GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE.

WE'VE NOT HEARD A LOT OF WORD ABOUT WHETHER THEY'RE WORKING ON ALTERNATIVE MAPS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THEY WERE OFF FOR THE HOLIDAY.

IT'S BEEN QUIET FOR THE OHIO STATE HOUSE AS OF LATE.

>> MY GUESS IS ON SOMEBODY'S HARD DRIVE, THERE'S PROBABLY A BACK UP.

USE ONE OF THE BACK-UP MAPS FROM BEFORE.

>> I HAVE A FEW ALTERNATIVE VERSIONS.

>> AND THEY TURN THE MAPS OUT LIKE LICKTY SPLIT.

TIME FOR THE FINAL PARTING SHOTS.

WE'LL LEAVE IT TO YOU.

>> IN THE ABSENCE OF TRUTH, PERSEPGSZ BECOMES REALITY.

A YEAR AGO A MOB INVADED THE CAPITOL TO STOP THE CERTIFICATION OF A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

THEY WERE SEDUCED BY PERSISTENT LIES THAT THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN.

WILL DEMOCRACY SURVIVE?

I THINK SO BUT NOT WITHOUT THE OBJECTIVITY OF TRUTH.

TRUTH, AND LIES ARE NOT EQUIVALENT.

>> YOUR FINAL THOUGHTS.

GLM KRR QUITED BECAUSE STARTING NEXT WEEK SCHOOL BOARDS, INCLUDING MY OWN ARE GOING TO HAVE CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP.

WE WORKED HARD, AS PARENTS ACROSS THE STATE.

WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE MEN AND WOMEN ON OUR SCHOOL BOARD.

WE'RE EXCITED.

THE COVID, MASK MANDATES.

IT'S EXCITING TIME TO SEE WHERE OUR COVID SCHOOLS GO.

>> IT WAS A ROUGH WEEK FOR PEOPLE TRYING TO GATHER SIGNATURES FOR VARIOUS PROPOSALS.

EFFORT TO LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA AND ANOTHER TO BAN VACCINE MANDATES BOTH COULDN'T GET OVER THE EDGE.

HOPEFULLY PEOPLE ARE BETTER AT COLLECTING SIGNATURES NEXT TIME.

>> AND THEY HAVE ALTIME TO COLLECT SIGNATURES?

IT COULD STILL GET ON THE BALLOT IF THEY COLLECT THE SIGNATURES IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

>>> MY PREDICTION IS I PREDICT PAT DEWINE WILL NOT SIDE WITH THE DEMOCRATS AND OVERTURN HIS VOTE FOR THE REDISTRICTING MAP.

I THINK HE'LL BE IN FAVOR OF THE MAPS AS THEY STAND RIGHT NOW.

YOU COCOUNT ON IT RIGHT NOW.

THAT IS "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" FOR THIS WEEK.

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HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND, STAY SAFE.