Columbus on the Record October 12, 2012

>>> MITT ROMNEY'S OHIO BOUNCE
AND JOE BIDEN TRIES TO HELP THE
DEMOCRATS BOUNCE BACK.
CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY WOSU-TV,
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
>>> FROM BATTELLE STUDIO AT WOSU AT
COSI THIS IS "COLUMBUS ON THE
RECORD.
"SENIOR EDITOR FOR THE DISPATCH.
STATE HOUSE BUREAU CHIEF FOR
OHIO PUBLIC RADIO AND TV.
SAM GRESHAM OF COMMON CAUSE OHIO
AND MICHAEL MILLER, ATTORNEY AND
FORMER FRANKLIN COUNTY
PROSECUTOR.
>>> THE OPTIMIST IN THE ROMNEY
COMPLAIN MIGHT SAY THE
REPUBLICAN IS CLOSING THE GAP ON
PRESIDENT OBAMA IN OHIO.
PESSIMISTS MIGHT SAY ROMNEY'S
CAMPAIGN HAS JUST STOPPED THE
BLEEDING.
IN THE DAYS BEFORE THE DEBATE,
ROMNEY WAS TRAILING PRESIDENT
OBAMA IN OHIO BY AN AVERAGE OF
NINE POINTS.
AFTER THE DEBATE, HE TRAILS BY
AN AVERAGE OF FIVE POINTS.
BASICALLY, ROMNEY HAS CUT THE
PRESIDENT'S LEAD IN HALF.
SO IT WAS LEFT TO JOE BIDEN AND
TO USE THE BASEBALL METAPHOR, TO
TRY TO EVEN THE BEST OF FOUR
DEBATE SERIES.
WHAT WE SAW WAS MUCH DIFFERENT
THAN LAST WEEK'S DEBATE.
TAKE THIS EXCHANGE ON TAX CUTS.
>> THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN FIND $5
TRILLION IN LOOPHOLES IS CUT THE
MORTGAGE DEDUCTION FOR MIDDLE
CLASS PEOPLE.
CUT THE HEALTH CARE DEDUCTION,
MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE.
TAKE AWAY THEIR ABILITIES TO GET
A TAX GREAT TO SEND THEIR KIDS
TO COLLEGE.
>> HE'S WRONG ABOUT THAT?
>> HE IS WRONG ABOUT THAT.
YOU CAN CUT TAX RATES BY 20% AND
STILL PRESERVE THESE IMPORTANT
PREFERENCES FOR MIDDLE RATE
TAXPAYERS.
>> IT'S NOT MATHEMATICALLY
POSSIBLE.
>> IT IS MATHEMATICALLY
POSSIBLE.
IT'S BEEN DONE BEFORE.
>> IT HAS NEVER BEEN DONE
BEFORE.
>> RONALD REAGAN --
>> NOW YOU'RE JACK KENNEDY.
>> WENT LIKE THAT FOR MOST OF
THE REST OF THE AT ANY TIME
DEBATE KAREN CASTLER.
DID JOE BIDEN RIGHT THE SHIP?
DID HE DO WELL ENOUGH TO PUT THE
GAME BACK IN THE DEMOCRATS'
HANDS?
>> I THINK A LOT OF DEMOCRATS
ARE FEELING VERY CONFIDENT IN
HIS PERFORMANCE AND VERY HAPPY
WHAT THEY SAW OUT OF HIM.
AND HE CERTAINLY HIT A LOT OF
POINTS THAT PEOPLE WERE CRITICAL
OF PRESIDENT OBAMA, FOR NOT
HITTING IN PREVIOUS DEBATES, THE
47% COMMENT AND SOME OF THE
REMARKS ABOUT FLIP-FLOPPING AND
CHANGING POSITIONS.
AND SO THERE WAS THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, PAUL RYAN
CERTAINLY HELD HIS OWN AND A LOT
OF REPUBLICANS ARE PLEASED WITH
HIS PERFORMANCE, ESPECIALLY
AGAINST A VETERAN LIKE JOE
BIDEN.
SO I THINK THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL
DEBATE IS REALLY OUT OF ALL THE
DEBATES MOST FUN TO WATCH.
TYPICALLY, PEOPLE DON'T VOTE ON
THE VICE PRESIDENT, THEY VOTE ON
THE PRESIDENT.
AND SO THESE CANDIDATES
TYPICALLY HAVE LESS TO LOSE.
AND THEY MAY BE A LITTLE BIT
MORE -- A LITTLE LESS
RESTRAINED, SO TO SPEAK.
>> EVEN FOR JOE BIDEN.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AMAZED
ME IN THE TWO POLLS, THE CBS
POLLS AND THE CNN POLL.
THE CNN POLL SAID RYAN WON AND
THE CBS POLL SAID BIDEN WON.
I THOUGHT IT WAS AN INTERESTING
DEBATE FROM THAT STANDPOINT.
NOW, SOMETHING I SAW THAT I
THOUGHT WAS A SPLIT SCREEN AGAIN
THAT SHOWED ITSELF, AND I THINK
BOTH HANDLED IT BETTER.
SO WHEN THE OFF SHOT WAS
OCCURRING, YOU DIDN'T LOOK BAD
OR WRITING NOTES.
I THINK ALL IN ALL, IT WAS AS
WHAT WAS EXPECTED.
I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A DRAW.
I REALLY DID THINK IT WOULD BE A
DRAW.
BUT THEY WON -- THEY GAVE IT TO
BIDEN.
AND I THINK THERE ARE SOME
REASONS FOR THAT.
>> THEY BOTH ACCOMPLISHED WHAT
THEY NEEDED TO ACCOMPLISH.
I THINK BIDEN STANCHED THE
BLEEDING FROM THE OBAMA DEBACLE
IN HIS DEBATE.
AND I THINK RYAN SHOWED HE
BELONGED TO THE STAGE.
I THINK ON DEBATING POINTS,
BIDEN WOULD HAVE BEEN THE CLEAR
WINNER IF JOE BIDEN HADN'T BEEN
JOE BIDEN.
HE CAME OFF AS SMUG AND
CONDESCENDING AND INTERRUPTING.
I THINK HE LOST ON SMILE POINTS
AND THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCES.
>> PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS
CRITICIZED FOR NOT DOING THAT.
BUT JOE BIDEN NOW IS CRITICIZED
FOR DOING THAT.
HOW DO YOU WIN?
>> WELL, I DON'T THINK YOU DO.
BUT THERE IS A WAY TO DO THESE
THINGS AND WAY NOT TO DO THESE
THINGS.
AND AS JOE SAYS, IF YOU COME
ACROSS SMUG AND CON DID HE
SENDING, EVEN IF YOUR POINTS ARE
THE SAME, THAT'S NOT GOING TO
WIN THEM FOR YOU.
I DON'T KNOW WHO ARE THE WINNERS
OR LOSERS IN THESE THINGS.
KAREN SAYS THE DEMOCRATS WERE
HAPPY, I'M SURE THEY WERE.
I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS THEY
WERE REALLY HAPPY, BIDEN DIDN'T
PULL ONE OF HIS MISSTATEMENTS
EMBARRASS EVERYBODY, HE GOT
THROUGH IT OKAY, DID FINE.
AND, AGAIN, AS KAREN SAYS, I
TOTALLY AGREE, I THINK PEOPLE
ENJOYED IT, BUT THEY DON'T VOTE
ON THE VICE PRESIDENT DEBATES.
IT'S HOW THE PRESIDENTIAL
DEBATES GO THAT MATTERS.
I'M VERY CURIOUS.
BOTH OF YOU SAID THIS, THAT
BIDEN INTERRUPTED.
FROM AN ADJECTIVE STANDPOINT,
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT
ROMNEY DID THE FIRST DAY?
WAS THAT ANYTHING CLOSE TO WHAT
JOE DID?
>> WELL, I WAS QUOTING JOE ON
THAT, SAM, BECAUSE I DIDN'T
WATCH EITHER ONE OF THEM.
I HAVEN'T WATCHED ONE IN 14 OR
15 YEARS.
>> OKAY, OKAY.
>> I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS EVEN
CLOSE, SAM.
I THOUGHT THAT JOE BIDEN CUT IN
ON BRIAN MUCH MORE THAN ROMNEY
DID ON OBAMA.
AND I THOUGHT THE MODERATOR,
ALTHOUGH SHE WAS MUCH BETTER
THAN THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE,
SHE LET IT HAPPEN TOO MUCH.
EACH CANDIDATE WAS SUPPOSED TO
HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SAY THEIR
PIECE.
I THINK BIDEN'S STRONGEST
MOMENTS WERE AT THE END WHEN HE
TALKED ABOUT WOMEN'S ISSUES, AND
THEY WERE -- HE WAS VERY GOOD ON
THOSE.
AND I THOUGHT THAT ODDLY ENOUGH,
THAT RYAN'S STRONGEST MOMENTS
WERE WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT
MEDICAID AND SOCIAL SECURITY.
YOU CAN CRITICIZE THEIR PLAN FOR
ALL YOU WANT, BUT AT LEAST THEY
HAVE A PLAN.
AND WE HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING
FROM BIDEN AND OBAMA ON HOW
THEY'RE GOING TO PRESERVE
MEDICARE.
>> WHO WATCHES THE VICE
PRESIDENT IAL DEBATE?
>> MY GUESS IS IT'S THE
PARTISANS, THE REALLY IN TUNE --
>> THAT'S IT.
>> I THINK THIS DEBATE, THOUGH,
WITH THE PERSONALITIES INVOLVED,
THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN OTHER
PEOPLE ENGAGED BEYOND PEOPLE WHO
ARE WONKS.
I THINK PEOPLE WERE WATCHING TO
SEE JOE BIDEN MAKE A GAFFE, TO
SEE PAUL RYAN BECAUSE HE'S CUTE,
WHATEVER.
AND I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE DRAWN
A DIFFERENT CROWD THIS TIME THAN
THE USUAL PEOPLE WATCHING.
>> DON'T FORGET, THEY WERE TWO
BASEBALL GAMES AND AN NFL GAME
ON.
>> THE OHIO TEAMS WERE ALL OUT.
COME ON.
>> IN MY HOUSE, WHEN WE WATCHED
THE PRESIDENT VERSUS GOVERNOR
ROMNEY, EVERYBODY IN MY HOUSE
THOUGHT HE WAS A BULLY.
AND THEY THOUGHT HE WAS
DISRESPECTFUL.
AND THAT HE MANIPULATED THE
MODERATOR.
HE WAS DISRESPECTFUL TO THE
MODERATOR.
>> I WANT TO GET TO WHY PEOPLE
DON'T WATCH DEBATES.
MICHAEL, WHY HAVEN'T YOU
WATCHED?
>> WELL, JUST THE LITTLE THING
YOU PUT ON THERE.
HOW MANY TIMES JOE BIDEN YELLED
MIDDLE CLASS, MIDDLE CLASS,
MIDDLE CLASS, AND WE'RE FIGHTING
FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS.
OBVIOUSLY THAT BODES WELL.
AND BOTH SIDES DO IT, OVER AND
OVER AGAIN.
AND I GOT FED UP 14 OR 15 YEARS
AGO.
THIS ISN'T A DEBATE, THESE ARE
TWO SPIN DOCTORS SAYING WHAT
THEY WANT TO SAY, GEARED TO DO
IT.
AND I FOUND THEM BASICALLY
WORTHLESS.
SO I JUST QUIT WATCHING THEM.
>> YOU KNOW, I HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SIT IN ON A FOCUS
GROUP HERE IN COLUMBUS, LAST
WEEK.
AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO
OVERSTATE THE DAMAGE THAT WAS
DONE TO OBAMA IN THAT FIRST
DEBATE.
TO A PERSON, THEY WERE SHOCKED
AT HOW POORLY HE DID.
ONE WOMAN SAID HE WAS
IRRESPONSIBLE FOR NOT BEING
PREPARED.
AND ALL OF THEM SAID IT MADE
THEM LOOK AT MITT ROMNEY IN --
WITH DIFFERENT EYES.
SO THESE THINGS REALLY DO
MATTER.
I DIDN'T THINK -- I THOUGHT THE
47% COMMENT WAS RUINOUS TO THE
ROMNEY CANDIDACY.
BUT AMAZINGLY, THIS DEBATE JUST
TURNED THE MOMENTUM AROUND.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GET BACK TO THE CAMPAIGN.
AWAY FROM THE DEBATE STAGE, THE
CANDIDATES WERE BACK IN CENTRAL
OHIO THIS WEEK.
PRESIDENT OBAMA LED A RALLY OF
15,000 SUPPORTERS ON THE OSU
OVAL.
IT WAS A GET OUT THE VOTE RALLY
ON VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE
DAY.
THE NIGHT BEFORE THIS APPEARANCE
AT OHIO STATE, HE TRIED TO PUT
THAT DEBATE PERFORMANCE INTO
PERSPECTIVE.
>> AFTER THE DEBATE, I HAD A
BUNCH OF FOLKS COME TO ME, DON'T
BE SO POLITE, DON'T BE SO NICE.
THEY --
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> BUT I WANT EVERYBODY TO
UNDERSTAND SOMETHING.
WHAT WAS BEING PRESENTED WASN'T
LEADERSHIP.
THAT'S SALESMANSHIP.
THE PLAN IS TO LET WALL STREET
RUN WILD AGAIN, BUT HE'S GOING
TO BRING THE HAMMER DOWN ON
SESAME STREET.
>> MITT ROMNEY WAS HAVING NONE
OF THAT, TRYING TO MAINTAIN HIS
MOMENTUM.
AT A RALLY IN Mt. VERNON.
>> MY WHOLE PASSION IS ABOUT
HELPING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO
ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
THE PRESIDENT SAYS HE'S FOR THE
MIDDLE CLASS.
HOW HAVE THEY DONE UNDER HIS
PRESIDENCY?
NOT SO WELL.
I WANT TO HELP THE MIDDLE CLASS
GET GOOD JOBS AND BETTER
TAKEHOME PAY.
I KNOW HOW TO DO THAT.
>> SAM GRESHAM, DID -- WAS THIS
A MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR THE
PRESIDENT IN THAT DEBATE, AND
CAN HE RECOVER FROM IT, AND HAS
HE ALREADY RECOVERED FROM IT?
>> IN MY OPINION, IT WAS A
MISSED OPPORTUNITY.
WHAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR WAS A
BREAK-EVEN.
I DON'T THINK HE WENT IN THERE
WITH AN IDEA OF WINNING, BECAUSE
WHAT HAPPENS FIVE OF THE LAST
SIX INCUMBENTS HAVE LOST IN
THEIR FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
BUT ALL GONE ON TO WIN THE
ELECTION.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT HE WAS
TRYING TO DO.
I DON'T THINK HE WAS WELL
PREPARED, AND I THINK THE
STRUCTURE OF HOW GOVERNOR ROMNEY
APPROACHED HIM CAUGHT HIM OFF
GUARD.
FROM A RESOLVE, I DON'T THINK HE
HAS TO CHANGE MUCH.
PARTICULARLY HERE IN OHIO.
EVERYBODY KNEW THE ELECTION WAS
GOING TO GET CLOSE.
WHO DIDN'T -- WHO THOUGHT
PRESIDENT BUSH -- I MEAN,
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA WAS GOING
TO WIN BY NINE POINTS, NO WAY.
HE WAS GOING TO DO WHAT HE DID
LAST TIME.
HE NEEDS TO MAINTAIN WHAT HE IS
DOING.
THE JOB FIGURES REALLY HELPED
AND THE NEXT JOB FIGURES WILL
HELP THE DAY BEFORE ELECTION.
>> YOU LOOK AT THE POLL NUMBERS,
THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE RACE
HAVEN'T CHANGED.
BARACK OBAMA AT 51, 52%.
WHAT HAPPENED IS, THE FEW
UNDECIDEDS HAVE GONE TO MITT
ROMNEY AFTER THAT DEBATE.
SO IT'S TIGHTENED IT FROM 9 TO
5.
>> THERE'S STILL A 20-POINT GAP
FOR WOMEN.
12-POINT GAP IN FAVOR OF MITT
ROMNEY WITH MEN.
IS IT THE UNDECIDEDS THAT ARE
SWAYING TOWARDS ROMNEY BECAUSE
OF THIS DEBATE?
>> I THINK SO.
THEY SWAY ENOUGH, WHO KNOWS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S STILL -- WHAT, 25
DAYS UNTIL THE ELECTION?
THAT'S STILL A LONG TIME.
AS I REMEMBER IT, AND PERHAPS
I'M WRONG, BUT PRESIDENT CARTER
HAD A PRETTY GOOD LEAD ON
PRESIDENT REAGAN BEFORE --
GOVERNOR REGULAR AN AT THE TIME,
AND HE ENDED UP WINNING 44, 45,
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> I THINK AFTER THE DEBATE
THOSE NUMBERS CAME MUCH CLOSER.
>> I THINK THAT'S TRUE.
BUT THERE IS A LONG TIME LEFT
HERE.
AND I THINK MOST PEOPLE HAVE
DECIDED, AND I DO THINK SOME
PEOPLE WILL CHANGE THEIR MIND
AFTER THE DEBATES.
BUT NOT A LOT.
>> THE UNDECIDED VOTERS OR
PARTISAN?
>> THERE WERE 12 OF THEM,
WELL-CHOSEN.
CONDUCTED BY THE AN UNBERG
SCHOOL, PETER HART, THEY WERE
PERSUADABLE.
SO I THINK FIVE WENT IN FOR
OBAMA, FOUR FOR ROMNEY AND THE
OTHERS WERE UNDECIDED.
AND IT WAS FASCINATING TO WATCH,
BUT IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT THE
DEBATE REALLY HURT OBAMA.
BUT THE OTHER THING I TOOK OUT
OF IT WAS THESE PEOPLE DON'T
LIKE MITT ROMNEY.
THEY PERSONALLY DO NOT LIKE MITT
ROMNEY.
>> SO DOES THE RATING GO UP
AFTER THAT FIRST DEBATE?
>> I THINK SO.
BUT BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE HIM
DOES NOT MEAN THEY WON'T VOTE
FOR HIM.
BECAUSE ON THE KEY QUESTION OF
WHO IS BETTER PREPARED TO HANDLE
THE ECONOMY, ALMOST ALL OF THEM
FAVORED MITT ROMNEY.
>> I KNOW YOU HEARD MIKE MENTION
THIS WHOLE IDEA OF PEOPLE BEING
DECIDED AND NOT GOING TO CHANGE
THEIR MIND.
THAT'S WHAT BOTH CAMPAIGNS ARE
LOOKING FOR.
THOSE ARE THE VOTERS THEY WANT
TO MAIL THEIR BALLOTS IN AND GET
THEM TO THE POLLS.
AND THE GROUND GAME IS REALLY
CRUCIAL WHEN YOU HAVE SO FEW
UNDECIDED VOTERS.
AND PEOPLE HAVE MADE UP THEIR
MINDS.
ONCE YOU CAST THAT BALLOT, ET
CETERA OVER.
>> GETTING THEM OUT EARLY.
>> AND KAREN MAKES A VERY GOOD
POINT.
THE GROUND GAME.
THERE ARE 121 OFFICES THAT OBAMA
HAS IN OHIO.
THEY HAVE HAD MORE THAN THAT
NUMBER SINCE JULY.
SO THEY ARE MOBILIZING PEOPLE.
AND IN THE FINAL ESSENCE, THAT'S
WHAT'S GOING TO MAKE THE
DIFFERENCE.
TWO THINGS FOR HIM GOING INTO
THE NEXT DEBATE.
THE POWER OF THE INCUMBENCY.
HE HAS TO FIND OUT IN HIS HEAD
HOW BEST TO USE THAT.
THE THIRD THING HE HAS -- SECOND
THING HE HAS TO WORRY ABOUT, AND
SPECIFICALLY FROM THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, THE
ANGRY BLACK MAN.
PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED HOW THAT
WILL BE VIEWED IF HE TAKES ON
ROMNEY'S STYLE.
IF PEOPLE WILL ACCEPT THAT FROM
A BLACK MAN IN A WIDE AUDIENCE.
SO THERE ARE LOTS OF SUBTLETIES.
I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT HAMPERED HIM, WAS
THAT IMAGE OF THE ANGRY BLACK
MAN, AND AS THE FORMAT WAS BEING
LOST, HE DIDN'T WANT TO PIVOT TO
THAT TYPE OF PERSON, SO HE
DIDN'T DO IT.
>> OKAY.
LET'S GET TO OUR NEXT TOPIC.
OHIO'S BATTLE OVER IN-PERSON
VOTING IS GOING TO THE U.S.
SUPREME COURT.
SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN HUE
INSTEAD IS APPEALING THE RULING
ORDERING OHIO TO ALLOW IN-PERSON
VOTING THE LAST THREE DAYS
BEFORE THE ELECTION.
THE APPEALS COURT RULING SAID
THE STATE HAD NO REASON TO ALLOW
MILITARY PERSONNEL TO VOTE IN
PERSON, WHILE DENYING
NONMILITARY PERSONNEL THAT
OPPORTUNITY.
HE CALLS IT AN UNPRECEDENTED
VERSION TO A STATE'S ABILITY TO
RUN AN ELECTION.
JOE, WHY IS JOHN HUESTED KEEPING
UP THIS FIGHT?
>> WELL, I THINK HE'S GOT A GOOD
CASE TO MAKE.
HE SAID THAT THIS DECISION, FROM
THE SIXTH CIRCUIT DOES NOT MAKE
LEGAL OR PRACTICAL SENSE.
AND I THINK HE'S GOT A VALID
CASE.
BECAUSE ON THE ONE HAND, THE
SIXTH CIRCUIT SAYS YOU CANNOT
DISCRIMINATE.
YOU CANNOT ALLOW MILITARY FOLKS
TO VOTE ON THE ELECTION AND NOT
OTHER VOTERS.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE COURT
SAID, BUT YOU CAN LEAVE IT UP TO
EACH COUNTY WHETHER OR NOT THEY
DECIDE TO HAVE WEEKEND VOTING.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, THE COURT
SAYS, BUT THE COUNTIES CAN
DISCRIMINATE AGAINST GROUPS OF
VOTERS.
SO I THINK IT'S A VERY CONFUSED
DECISION, AND I THINK GOING
FORWARD WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE
AND WHAT HUSTED ALREADY IS
DOING, HE'S -- IN ADVANCE OF THE
APPEAL, WHETHER THE SUPREME
COURT ACCEPTS THE APPEAL OR NOT,
PREPARING THE BOARDS OF
ELECTIONS.
I THINK NEXT WEEK HE WILL SAY,
OKAY, IF MY APPEAL IS DENIED, WE
ARE GOING TO ALLOW VOTING ON
SATURDAY, SUNDAY AND MONDAY.
THESE HOURS ACROSS THE BOARD.
>> WELL, UNIFORMITY.
DO YOU THINK HE WILL SAY ALL
COUNTIES HAVE TO DO IT?
SMALL RURAL COUNTIES, AS WELL AS
THE URBAN COUNTIES WHICH HAVE
DONE IT?
WILL HE SAY ALL COUNTIES HAVE TO
DO IT?
>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK HE SAID THAT FROM DAY
ONE.
HE WANTS UNIFORM RULES ACROSS
THE BOARD.
>> SO WHO PAYS FOR THAT?
>> GUESS.
YEAH.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S STILL THE
ARGUMENT FROM THOSE WHO ARE
UPSET BY THIS WHOLE THING.
EVEN WITH UNIFORMITY, THAT
EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME RULES,
IT'S STILL NOT UNIFORM, BECAUSE
THE COUNTIES ARE VERY DIFFERENT.
SO --
>> IT'S UP POSITIVE THE POLLING
LOCATION.
>> SO IT'S THE IDEA THAT JUST
BECAUSE YOU PUT THE SAME RULES
IN FOR EVERYBODY, IT DOESN'T
NECESSARILY MAKE IT FAIR FOR
EVERY SINGLE VOTER IN OHIO.
AND THAT'S THE REAL ISSUE, IS
THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT PARTS
OF THE STATE, SO MANY DIFFERENT
AREAS, AND THE RULES -- IF THE
COUNIES CAN ENFORCE THEIR OWN
RULES, THEY CAN REACH THEIR OWN
VOTERS, BUT THEN DON'T HAVE THE
UNIFORMITY.
>> I THINK THE DEMOCRATS HAVE
ALREADY WON ON THIS.
WHETHER THEY WIN LEGALLY --
OBVIOUSLY, THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN
AND DEMOCRATS HAVE WON LEGALLY
SO FAR, INCLUDING THE SIXTH
CIRCUIT.
BUT THEY HAVE WON THE EMOTIONAL
BATTLE.
BECAUSE THEY HAVE PAINTED THE
REPUBLICANS AND HUSTED AS
ATTEMPTING TO SUPPRESS THE VOTE.
>> THAT GOES BACK TO MY OTHER
QUESTION, WHY KEEP THE FIGHT UP,
BECAUSE IT ONLY PROLONGS --
ESPECIALLY IF YOU LOSE AT THE
SUPREME COURT, IF THEY DENY
TAKING THE CASE, YOU DELAY THE
INEVITABLE AND KEEP THE FIRE
BURNING.
>> I DON'T KNOW JOHN HUSTED, BUT
MY THOUGHT IS HE IS DOING THIS
ONE OF TWO REASONS OR PERHAPS
BOTH.
HE'S CARRYING THE PARTY BANNER,
SO TO SPEAK, AND DOING WHAT THE
REPUBLICANS WISH.
OR HE TRULY BELIEVES THAT IT WAS
A VERY POOR DECISION OUT OF THE
SIXTH CIRCUIT, IT'S WRONG, AND
HE THINKS THE SUPREME COURT WILL
REVERSE IT.
>> THE SAD PART OF THAT, THOUGH,
IS THE CONTINGENT THAT STILL
EXISTS.
AND WHAT JOE SAYS, THE
PERCEPTION OF VOTER SUPPRESSION
IN THE OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY.
>> THAT'S THE DEMOCRATS THAT
PAINTED THAT PICTURE.
THERE MAY NOT BE A DIME'S WORTH
OF TRUTH TO IT.
>> THERE IS A DIME'S WORTH OF
TRUTH AND SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO
PROVE.
AND WILL HAVE --
>> 60 YEARS OR 55 YEARS, I'VE
NEVER SEEN IT -- ANYBODY VOTING.
THERE MAY BE A GUY HERE AND A
GUY HERE.
>> MAYBE A GHOST IN THE ROOM,
BUT 41 STATES PUT THIS
LEGISLATION FOR, AND IT COULD
HAVE THE EFFECT OF NEGAING 2 TO
6 MILLION PEOPLE.
SO THE POSSIBILITY THAT IT MAY
HAVE SOME CREDENCE IS THERE.
>> WELL, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY I
MIGHT WIN THE LOTTERY
BACK-TO-BACK TIMES TOO, BUT I
DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN.
>> BUT FROM MY SIDE OF THE
STREET --
>> I UNDERSTAND YOUR SIDE OF THE
STREET.
>> PROMISING POSSIBILITY.
>> SPEAKING OF WINNING A
LOTTERY, THE COLUMBUS CASINO HAS
BEEN A POPULAR SPOT THIS WEEK
AFTER ITS OPENING ON MONDAY.
LOOKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY
WAS HARD TO IMAGINE, OH SO LONG
AGO THAT TIME WHEN THE MAYOR AND
MANY CIVIC AND BUSINESS LEADERS
WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH THE
CASINO.
BUT THE GAMBLERS OR EVEN JUST
THE CURIOUS SEEMED TO ENJOY IT.
CASINO OFFICIALS SAY 25,000
PEOPLE VISITED THE CASINO ON ITS
FIRST DAY, AND AN IMPRESSIVE
START EVEN FOR ACTRESS ANN
MARGARET.
>> ANN MARGARET, WANT TO WELCOME
YOU TO COLUMBUS.
ONE OF HER GREAT MOVIES WAS
"VIVA LAS VEGAS."
WELL NOW I WANT TO TELL YOU,
VIVA COLUMBUS!
>> VIVA OR NOT, GAMBLING
REVENUES ACROSS THE STATE ARE
DOWN FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT
MONTH SINCE THE CLEVELAND AND
TOLEDO CASINOS OPENED LAST
SUMMER.
CASINO REVENUES ACROSS THE STATE
ARE DOWN 20%.
KAREN KESSLER, YOU WERE THERE.
WHAT WERE YOUR IMPRESSIONS?
>> I LIKED THE SPEECH, WHICH WAS
BASICALLY -- IT WAS GREAT.
YOU DIDN'T SAY A WORD.
THERE WE GO.
AND YOU KNOW, AFTER AN HOUR AND
A HALF OF SITTING IN THE CASINO,
WHICH IS GARISH AND GAUDY, BUT
IT'S GORGEOUS.
WANTED TO GET OUT AND WALK
AROUND A LITTLE BIT.
I THINK THE CROWDS AT THE
COLUMBUS CASINO, ACCORDING TO
THE ESTIMATES, WERE LARGER THAN
THE ONES AT THE CLEVELAND CASINO
AND THE TOLEDO CASINO.
BUT YOU DO HAVE TO WONDER ABOUT
MARKET SATURATION.
AND I ASKED THE PENN NATIONAL
WHO WAS THERE, WHAT IS GOING ON
WITH THIS?
YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER CASINO STILL
COMING IN CINCINNATI IN 2013,
AND YOU'VE GOT THE RACING COMING
ONLINE IN 2014, WHEN DO WE GET
TO THIS POINT WHERE THERE IS TOO
MUCH?
HE DOESN'T FEEL WE'RE AT THAT
POINT.
AND THE NUMBERS CERTAINLY
SUGGEST THERE MIGHT BE SOME OF
THAT COMING.
AND YOU HAVE TO LOOK TOO AT
ONLINE GAMBLING.
AT SOME POINT, THAT'S GOING TO
POSSIBLY BECOME LEGAL.
ONCE PEOPLE CAN GAMBLE IN THEIR
BASEMENT IN THEIR UNDERWEAR AND
NOT HAVE TO LEAVE THE HOUSE,
WHAT'S THAT GOING TO LEAVE FOR
CASINOS AND RACING?
>> MICHAEL MILLER, THE 20% DROP,
IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE NEWNESS
OF THE CLEVELAND CASINO AND THE
TOLEDO CASINO IS WEARING OFF, OR
IS IT A TRENDY THING THAT WILL
CONTINUE?
>> I THINK IT'S THE FORMER,
MIKE.
I DON'T KNOW, BUT I THINK
WHENEVER YOU HAVE SOMETHING SO
NEW -- WE'VE JUST NEVER HAD
THIS.
ANYBODY THAT WANTED TO GAMBLE
LEGITIMATELY, YOU GO TO ATLANTIC
CITY OR FLY TO LAS VEGAS --
>> WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?
>> LEGITIMATELY.
>> OF BUT THAT YOU HAVE IT RIGHT
HERE, AS THEY DID IN TOLEDO AND
SO FORTH, AND A GREAT IN FLUX TO
GO IN.
IT WILL COME DOWN.
I THINK THE TEST IS LET'S LOOK A
YEAR FROM NOW OR 18 MONTHS FROM
NOW AND SEE.
BUT THIS I THINK IS PRETTY
NORMAL.
>> THE WEST SIDE, YOU'RE HOPING?
>> I THINK THEY'RE HOPING.
BUT GOING TO KAREN'S QUESTION.
THE RESEARCH SAYS THIS.
IT DOES NOT HAVE A NEGATIVE
EFFECT ON TABLES.
BUT IF YOU HAVE A PREPONDERANCE
OF MORE MACHINES, IT DOES HAVE A
NEGATIVE EFFECT.
NOW, IN THIS FORMULA, WHAT DOES
RACINOS MEAN?
BECAUSE RACINOS ARE JUST
MACHINES.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO I DON'T KNOW -- I DON'T
KNOW, YOU KNOW -- IN BUSINESS
SCHOOL, THEY TOUT ME THERE'S A
THING CALLED POINT OF
DIMINISHING RETURNS.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, TWO YEARS AGO,
WE HAD NOTHING.
TODAY WE HAVE A GLUTEN OF
THINGS.
I WILL SEE -- I THINK THERE IS A
LEVELING OFF THAT OCCURRED.
ONE OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY TO
RESEARCH.
IN ISOLATION, CASINOS DO BETTER.
LIKE IN INDIANA, IT'S ONE.
WHEN YOU HAVE MULTIPLE, IT'S
QUESTIONABLE THEY WILL NOT HAVE
A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON EACH OTHER.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE
MAYOR GETTING UP THERE AND VIVA
COLUMBUS, AND THEY DIDN'T
REALLY -- THE MAYOR WAS KIND OF
AMBIVALENT, BUT OTHER
OFFICIALS -- HERE IT IS.
>> YEAH, HE WAS NOT EXACTLY
DOING CHEERLEADING JUMPS WHEN IT
WAS FIRST PROPOSED.
>> IN THE ARENA DISTRICT, YEAH.
>> YEAH.
BUT IT'S HERE, HE'S ACCEPTED IT.
THE CITY IS GETTING GOOD
REVIEWS.
WE HAD A BEAUTIFUL STORY IN
"TIME" MAGAZINE LAST WEEK ABOUT
HOW WELL COLUMBUS IS DOING.
I THINK IT WILL HELP THE WEST
SIDE.
I MEAN, IT'S BOUND TO BE HELPED.
YOU KNOW, THE -- THERE'S GOING
TO BE THOUSANDS MORE PEOPLE
HEADING THAT WAY.
BUT THE QUESTION IS, WILL THEY
LEAVE THE CASINO AND THOSE
REALLY NICE RESTAURANTS AND ALL
THAT STUFF TO GO SHOP ANYWHERE
ELSE?
>> WELL, OUR NEXT TOPIC TONIGHT,
WE'LL COME BACK TO AT SOME
POINT.
FEWER OHIO EX CONS ARE RETURNING
TO PRISON.
OHIO'S THREE YEAR RECIDIVISM
RATE HAS SEEN A STEEP DECLINE.
THAT'S THE RATE THAT MEASURES
THE NUMBER OF CONFLICTS THAT GET
IN TROUBLE AND RETURN TO JAIL
WITHIN THREE YEARS.
THE RATE OF RETURNING CON
VICTIMS HAS FALLEN 20% THE LAST
THREE YEARS.
WHY DO YOU THINK FEWER FOLKS ARE
GOING BACK TO PRISON?
>> ECONOMICS.
I THINK IS THE MAIN REASON.
I THINK JUST A LOT OF SMOKE AND
MIRRORS IN THIS.
IT'S APPLES AND ORANGES.
WE'RE COMPARING THINGS FROM 2003
TO 2012.
THEY'RE NOT THE SAME BASE.
IT'S DIFFERENT.
WE'VE GOT FIRST OFFENDERS NOW
WHO COMMITTED CERTAIN OFFENSES.
THE JUDGES CANNOT SEND THEM TO
PRISON.
I THINK MANY OF THE JUDGES SEE
CONVICTED FELONS DOING THESE
SAME THINGS AND THINK I CAN'T
SEND A., I'M NOT GOING TO
ACCEPTED B.
PEOPLE WHO GET OUT OF PRISON
WITH POST RELEASE CONTROL THEY
HAVE, IT'S MANDATED FOR
HOMICIDES AND I THINK FELONIES
ONES AND TWO.
BUT THE MAJORITY OF CRIMES ARE
FELONIES THREE, FOUR AND FIVE.
THEY ARE UNDER POST CONVICTION
RELEASE.
>> SO -- SENTENCING AND THINGS
LIKE THAT GOING ON RATHER
THAN --
>> THERE'S AUTO THAT STUFF.
I THINK IT STILL BOILS DOWN TO
THE BOTTOM LINE OF ECONOMICS.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE
A GREAT DEAL OF CRIME GOING
DOWN.
AT ALL.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS SOME
PANACEA THAT WE CAN ALL GRAB ON
TO AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO BE
LESS SAFE IN THE FUTURE.
I THINK IT'S SMOKE AND MIRRORS.
>> THE ONE THING THAT PUZZLED ME
ABOUT IT, THE NATIONAL AVERAGE
IS 40% IN RECIDIVISM.
IN OHIO, WE'RE DOWN TO 34%.
I THINK THERE'S SOME STRUCTURAL
CHANGES THAT WE'VE PUT INTO
PLACE.
WE HAVE BETTER COMMUNITY
SUPPORT.
WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE BEING
REFERRED TO THE COMMUNITY FOR
REHABILITATION, TREATMENT,
WHATEVER YOU WANT TO SAY.
I ALSO THINK, AND I DON'T KNOW
THE MOMENTUM CAME FROM
STRICKLAND AND KASICH.
I THINK THE CORRECTIONS
DEPARTMENT HAS BEGUN TO FOCUS ON
LOCAL COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
RATHER THAN LOCKING PEOPLE UP.
>> HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.
TIME FOR "OFF THE RECORD"
PARTING SHOTS.
AND MICHAEL MILLER, WE START
WITH YOU.
>> WELL, PARTING SHOT IS, I
THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A VERY
CLOSE RACE, THE PRESIDENT'S
RACE, ALSO FOR THE UNITED STATES
SENATE CONTROL THAT'S GOING TO
BE COMING DOWN I THINK TO A
PERCENT OR SO ONE WAY OR THE
OTHER.
IT'S GOING TO BE EXTREMELY
EXCITING, BUT I THINK ALL OF US
WILL BE VERY HAPPY WHEN IT'S
OVER.
>> SAM.
>> I THINK IN THE LONG RUN, THE
RACE WILL TIGHTEN UP.
I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE A
PROJECTION ON WHO IS GOING TO
WIN.
BUT I THINK IT'S A TYPICAL RACE
WE SHOULD EXPECT.
I QUESTION LONG-TERM THE
VIABILITY OF THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY, GIVEN WHAT THEY'VE DONE
IN THIS ELECTION.
>> KAREN.
>> WE'VE HAD THE PRESIDENTIAL
DEBATES, VICE PRESIDENTIAL
DEBATE.
NOW WE START OUR DEBATES HERE IN
OHIO.
U.S. CENSUS DAY COMING UP ON
MONDAY, I GET TO MODERATE THAT.
THAT SHOULD BE VERY INTERESTING.
WE'VE HAD CONGRESSIONAL DEBATES.
IT WAS A GOOD ONE IN NORTHEAST
OHIO.
CONGRESSWOMAN MARCY KAPTUR AND
JOE THE PLUMBER SAM WERZEL
BACKER DIDN'T SHOW UP, SO THERE
WAS AN EMPTY CHAIR.
THAT WAS INTERESTING.
AND ALSO, THE MOST EXPENSIVE
HOUSE RACE IN THE UNITED STATES
RIGHT NOW.
SUTTON AND DE RACY.
>> I GOT A COUPLE CALLS FROM
NATIONAL FOLKS TWO WEEKS AGO
ABOUT IS MITT ROMNEY PULLING OUT
OF OHIO?
AND I HAD TO LAUGH AT THAT.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE MONEY
THEY'RE SINKING INTO THIS STATE,
THE CANDIDATES ARE ALL OVER
ROMNEY/RYAN WHO HAVE BEEN HERE
FIVE OF THE LAST SIX DAYS THIS
WEEKEND.
OBAMA IS COMING THIS NEXT WEEK.
MICHELLE IN DELAWARE COUNTY.
THEY'RE ALL IN HERE, AND THEY'RE
GOING TO STAY ALL IN UNTIL
ELECTION DAY.
>> WE HAVE FOUR RULES ON
"COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD", TURN
OFF YOUR CELL PHONES, LOOK AT
THE CAMERA WHEN THEY CALL YOUR
NAME AND DON'T FORGET YOUR FINAL
THOUGHT.
AND YOU MUST ACT INTERESTED WHEN
OTHER PEOPLE ARE TALKING.
NOT BE INTERESTED, JUST ACT IT.
PRESIDENT OBAMA VIOLATED THAT
RULE IN THE FIRST DEBATE.
MY PREDICTION IS HE WILL NOT IN
HIS SECOND DEBATE.
THAT'S "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD."
I'M MIKE THOMPSON, HAVE A GOOD
WEEK.
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