00:00:01>> SUPPORT FOR THE STATEWIDE
BROADCAST OF THE STATE OF OHIO
00:00:07COMES FROM THE LAW OFFICES OF --
HELPING BUSINESSES AND
00:00:12INDIVIDUALS ALL COMPLEX LEGAL
PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT OHIO AND
00:00:17AROUND THE WORLD.
AND FROM THE OHIO EDUCATION
00:00:21ASSOCIATION, REPRESENTING
131,000 TEACHERS, SUPPORT
00:00:25PROFESSIONALS, AND HIGHER
EDUCATION FACULTY WORKING FOR
00:00:28GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR EVERY
CHILD.
00:00:31ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE STATE
OF OHIO IS MADE POSSIBLE BY
00:00:37ETECH OHIO.
>> THE ELECTION IS NOW IN OHIO,
00:00:42AS EARLY VOTING IS UNDERWAY.
WITH PUNDITS SAYING THAT THE
00:00:44RACE IS ABOUT WHO CAN GET THEIR
PEOPLE TO THE POLLS, BOTH
00:00:46PARTIES ARE PUSHING THEIR GROUND
GAMES INTO HIGH GEAR.
00:00:47AND A PANEL OF EXPERTS WHO MADE
THEIR CAREERS IN POLITICS
00:00:51DENOUNCE THE CURRENT STATE OF
POLITICS.
00:00:54ALL THIS WEEK IN "THE STATE OF
OHIO".
00:00:56CAPTIONED BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE
00:00:59--WWW.NCICAP.ORG--
NO FAULT ABSENTEE VOTING -
00:01:02COMMONLY CALLED EARLY VOTING -
IS UNDERWAY IN OHIO, WHICH IS
00:01:05ONE OF 32 STATES AND THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WHERE
00:01:08VOTERS DON'T HAVE TO WAIT TILL
ELECTION DAY TO CAST THEIR
00:01:10BALLOTS.
ONE EXPERT TELLS NPR THAT A
00:01:14THIRD OF THE COUNTRY'S VOTERS
COULD INDEED HAVE ALREADY VOTED
00:01:17BY NOVEMBER 6.
THE ANTICIPATION WAS BUILDING
00:01:21OVER THE WEEKEND, WHEN
REPUBLICAN VICE PRESIDENTIAL
00:01:24CANDIDATE PAUL RYAN SPOKE TO A
CONFERENCE OF ABOUT A THOUSAND
00:01:27SPORTSMEN IN COLUMBUS, AND THEN
ON THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY
00:01:30VOTING, WHEN FIRST LADY
MICHELLE OBAMA CAME TO
00:01:32CINCINNATI.
THE DAY BEFORE, ON EARLY VOTING
00:01:36EVE, SECRETARY OF STATE JON
HUSTED TOLD REPORTERS THAT HE
00:01:39AND THE 88 COUNTY BOARDS OF
ELECTIONS STATEWIDE ARE GEARED
00:01:45UP TO TAKE IN POTENTIALLY
MILLIONS OF EARLY BALLOTS -
00:01:49NOTING THAT 1.7 MILLION VOTERS
CAST BALLOTS EARLY IN THE
00:01:52PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 2008.
HUSTED SAYS MORE THAN 7 MILLION
00:01:55APPLICANTS FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS
HAVE BEEN SENT OUT TO NEARLY
00:01:59ALL OF OHIO'S REGISTERED VOTERS,
AND MORE THAN 922-THOUSAND HAD
00:02:02BEEN RETURNED BEFORE EARLY
VOTING EVEN STARTED.
00:02:06>> WE HAVE CURRENTLY 7.8 MILLION
REGISTERED VOTERS IN THE STATE
00:02:16OF OHIO.
WE EXPECT THAT NUMBER WILL
00:02:18SLIGHTLY INCREASE WITH THE
WINDOWS REMAINING FOR VOTERS TO
00:02:21REGISTER.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO REASSURE
00:02:24VOTERS THAT THE VOTING ROLLS IN
OHIO ARE IN THE BEST SHAPE THEY
00:02:29HAVE BEEN SINCE THE EARLY
VOTING PROCESS STARTED.
00:02:31WHEN I TOOK OVER THIS OFFICE, WE
ONLY HAD DATA ON -- COMPLETE
00:02:37DATA ON 25% OF THE VOTERS.
WE NOW HAVE DATA ON 100% OF THE
00:02:42VOTERS AND MOST OF THAT DATA IS
COMPLETE.
00:02:44WE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE.
THE INTEGRITY OF OUR VOTING
00:02:50ROLLS ARE IN THE BEST SHAPE THEY
HAVE EVER BEEN.
00:02:52>> HUSTED SAYS NOT ONLY WILL
OHIOANS DECIDE ON A
00:02:53PRESIDENTIAL RACE AND A US
SENATE CONTEST, THEY'LL ALSO
00:02:55DECIDE ON THEIR CONGRESSIONAL
RACES AND PICK MEMBERS OF THE
00:02:57OHIO HOUSE AND IN SOME DISTRICTS
THE OHIO STATE SENATE.
00:03:00HE NOTES THERE ARE 1,794 LOCAL
ISSUES ON THE BALLOT IN OHIO,
00:03:06AND NOT ALL OF THEM ARE MAKING
NEWS.
00:03:07EVEN AS EARLY VOTING BEGAN,
THERE WAS STILL A BIG QUESTION
00:03:11- WHETHER THERE WOULD BE EARLY
VOTING ON THE WEEKEND BEFORE
00:03:14THE ELECTION.
A FEDERAL JUDGE SIDED WITH
00:03:17DEMOCRATS AND THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION IN OVERTURNING
00:03:19AN ORDER FROM HUSTED BANNING
ALL WEEKEND VOTING.
00:03:21THAT DECISION IS BEING
APPEALED, AND AT BOARDS OF
00:03:25ELECTIONS OFFICES, THE SIGNS
NOTE THAT THE HOURS ON THE FINAL
00:03:28WEEKEND BEFORE ELECTION DAY ARE
"PENDING LITIGATION".
00:03:31HUSTED SAYS HE WOULD WELCOME
EARLY RESOLUTION TO OUTSTANDING
00:03:36ISSUES, NO MATTER WHAT THEY ARE.
BUT WHEN ASKED IF HE'S LOSING
00:03:39SLEEP OVER ELECTION
PREPARATIONS, HE SAID - QUOTING
00:03:42HERE - NOT AT ALL.
AND HUSTED SAYS BOARDS OF -- AND
00:03:49BOARD OF EDUCATION'S ARE
CHECKING MACHINES.
00:03:51THEY ARE CHECKING THEM TWICE.
WE ARE READY TO GO.
00:03:55I KNOW THAT'S IT IS STILL 35
DAYS, A LITTLE MORE THAN 35
00:04:02DAYS, BEFORE THE ELECTION AND
NATIONAL MEDIA ARE TRYING TO
00:04:06FIND SOME THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
IN SWING STATES WHEN THERE DOES
00:04:08NOT REALLY SEEM TO BE ANYTHING
NEW, BUT EVERYTHING IS PREPARED
00:04:13TO RUN SMOOTHLY IN OHIO.
WE HAVE LEARNED FROM 2004.
00:04:17WE LEARNED FROM 2000.
WE LEARNED FROM 2004.
00:04:21WE LEARNED FROM 2008.
I AM SURE WE WILL LEARN THINGS
00:04:26FROM 2012.
OHIO HAS SEEN THE HOTTEST FIRES
00:04:30AND WE ARE THE STRONGEST STEEL.
WE ARE PREPARED FOR THIS
00:04:34ELECTION AND THINGS WILL RUN
VERY SMOOTHLY.
00:04:36>> AND HUSTED SAYS THAT BOARDS
OF ELECTIONS ARE REPORTING THAT
00:04:44BETWEEN 10-20 PERCENT OF THE
ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUESTS ARE
00:04:46COMING FROM PEOPLE WHO'VE NEVER
VOTED BY MAIL BEFORE.
00:04:47BUT HE ALSO SAYS WHILE HE WON'T
GIVE ANY TURNOUT PREDICTIONS, HE
00:04:49HAS SEEN NO INDICATION THAT
THERE WILL BE WHAT HE CALLS
00:04:50"ABNORMAL TURNOUT" THIS YEAR.
HUSTED ALSO SAYS HE'S BEEN
00:04:54WORKING WITH SEVERAL AGENCIES
TO CLEAN UP THE VOTING ROLLS
00:04:56AND ELIMINATE REGISTRATIONS OF
VOTERS WHO ARE NO LONGER
00:04:59ELIGIBLE BECAUSE THEY'VE MOVED
OUT OF STATE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE
00:05:03RE-REGISTERED WITH NEW
ADDRESSES, OR BECAUSE THEY'VE
00:05:05DIED.
HUSTED SAYS MORE THAN 60-
00:05:07THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE CHANGED
THEIR REGISTRATIONS THROUGH
00:05:10MYOHIOVOTE.COM, AND HE SAYS HIS
OFFICE HAS SENT OUT NEARLY
00:05:14400,000 POSTCARDS TO VOTERS WHO
WERE BELIEVED TO HAVE HAD
00:05:17DUPLICATE REGISTRATIONS IN
STATE AND OUT OF THE STATE.
00:05:20OVER 150,000 DEAD VOTERS WERE
REMOVED FROM THE ROLLS, ALONG
00:05:25WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
DUPLICATE REGISTRATIONS.
00:05:28BUT HE SAYS NO ONE WAS
INVOLUNTARILY REMOVED.
00:05:31BY THE WAY, THE SECRETARY OF
STATE SAYS THIS YEAR, HE'LL BE
00:05:34VOTING BY MAIL.
SEVERAL OUTSIDE GROUPS HAVE
00:05:38GOTTEN INVOLVED IN HELPING
PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF ALL
00:05:40REGISTERED VOTERS TO CAST
BALLOTS.
00:05:42ONE OF THOSE GROUPS THE LAWYERS
COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
00:05:45UNDER LAW, A NON-PARTISAN GROUP
THAT ITS WEBSITE SAYS TARGETS
00:05:48"IN PARTICULAR THE INEQUITIES
CONFRONTING AFRICAN AMERICANS
00:05:53AND OTHER RACIAL AND ETHNIC
MINORITIES." THE ORGANIZATION'S
00:05:57SONIA GILL WAS TRAVELING OHIO
THIS WEEK.
00:05:58I ASKED HER ABOUT A CONCERN
THAT WITH SO MANY GROUPS SAYING
00:06:02THEY'LL BE IN OHIO TO PRESERVE
THE VOTE, THAT VOTERS MIGHT
00:06:06FEEL INTIMIDATED BY THOSE WHO
SEEK TO PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS.
00:06:09>> I THINK IT IS A POSSIBILITY,
YOU KNOW.
00:06:18I EXPECT THIS TO BE A SMOOTH
ELECTION PROCESS, NOT
00:06:21WITHSTANDING THIS EFFORT TO
CHALLENGE VOTERS.
00:06:25I THINK VOTERS ARE SAVVY ENOUGH
TO KNOW WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE.
00:06:29HOWEVER, AGAIN, ELECTION
PROTECTION IS HERE AS OUR
00:06:32RESOURCE FOR THEM AND THAT IS
WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO.
00:06:35IF THEY ARE FACING ISSUES OF
INTIMIDATION, YOU CAN
00:06:39IMMEDIATELY CALL US AT THE HOT
LINE, AND WE HAVE PROTOCOLS TO
00:06:44COORDINATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS,
COORDINATE OUR LEGAL FIELD
00:06:48MONITORS WHO WERE OUT IN THE
FIELD, MONITORING THE SPACES AND
00:06:52WE CAN DISPATCH FOLKS
IMMEDIATELY TO ASSESS WHAT THE
00:06:56SITUATION IS.
>> GILL SAYS SHE'S SEEN VOTERS
00:06:58IN SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY
BEING CONFRONTED BY OTHERS
00:07:00CARRYING AND POINTING GUNS AT
POLLING PLACES, AND SAYS SOME
00:07:02VOTERS REPORT FEELING
INTIMIDATED BY OTHER, MORE
00:07:04SUBTLE SITUATIONS - SUCH AS WHEN
CHURCHES HOUSING POLLING PLACES
00:07:07WOULD PUT UP BANNERS PRAISING
MARRIAGE BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE
00:07:10OPPOSITE SEX WHEN A SAME-SEX
MARRIAGE ISSUE WAS ON THE
00:07:13BALLOT.
AND WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE CLAIM
00:07:16BY SECRETARY OF STATE HUSTED
AND OTHERS THAT VOTING IN OHIO
00:07:19IS EASY AND THERE'S PLENTY OF
TIME TO DO IT, GILL RESPONDS
00:07:21THIS WAY.
>> I GUESS IT DEPENDS ON THE
00:07:28VOTER.
YOU KNOW, VOTERS HAVE TO
00:07:31REGISTER TO VOTE AND A HALF TO
VOTE.
00:07:33HISTORICALLY, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN
IN OHIO IS THE EARLY VOTING
00:07:38PROCESS AND ABSENTEE VOTING BY
MAIL ARE VERY POPULAR FORMS OF
00:07:42CASTING A BALLOT IN AN ELECTION.
THAT IS CERTAINLY TO BE TAKEN
00:07:47INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN THERE
ARE PROPOSED CHANGES IN RULES OR
00:07:50LAWS REGULATING THE VOTING.
FOR EXAMPLE, HD194.
00:07:57IN OHIO, EARLY VOTING STARTS 35
DAYS PRIOR TO THE ELECTION.
00:08:05ARE ORIGINALLY IT WAS LIMITED
TO 10 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION.
00:08:09>> THAT WAS A LAW THAT WAS
GOING TO BE REPEALED AND THE
00:08:14LEGISLATURE REPEALED IT
THEMSELVES?
00:08:16>> RIGHT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A HUGELY
00:08:19POPULAR METHOD OF VOTING.
WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS THE
00:08:22PATTERNS OF INDIVIDUALS TO USE
EARLY VOTING TEND TO BE AFRICAN-
00:08:26AMERICAN VOTERS.
THAT CERTAINLY NEEDS TO BE TAKEN
00:08:29INTO CONSIDERATION, THAT THIS IS
THE PER -- THIS IS THE PREFERRED
00:08:35METHOD OF VOTING FOR THIS
COMMUNITY.
00:08:36WE SHALL SEE HOW ROCHE -- A
RACIALLY POLARIZED EARLY VOTING
00:08:45WAS IN CLEVELAND.
THESE ARE THE THINGS -- FOLKS
00:08:49NEED TO GET EDUCATED ON WHO THIS
IS GOING TO IMPACT AND HOW WE
00:08:52CAN ACCOMMODATE THOSE VOTERS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO
00:08:55CONTINUE TO WORK WITH FOLKS IN
THE STATE WHO REALLY JUST STAND
00:09:01IN A CLASS OF THEIR OWN IN TERMS
OF ADVOCATING AND ORGANIZING OUR
00:09:06ROUND OF VOTING ISSUES.
>> STATS FROM THE FRANKLIN
00:09:08COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS FROM
2008 SHOW THAT DEMOCRATS DO LIKE
00:09:10TO VOTE EARLY.
THERE WERE 8,477 MORE BALLOTS
00:09:13CAST EARLY BY REGISTERED
DEMOCRATS THAN REPUBLICANS.
00:09:15OF THE TOTAL 51,784 BALLOTS
CAST IN FRANKLIN COUNTY IN
00:09:20PERSON, 10,739 WERE REGISTERED
DEMOCRATS, WHILE 1,883 WERE
00:09:28REGISTERED REPUBLICANS.
THE RESULTS WERE NEARLY EVEN
00:09:31FOR MAILED-IN BALLOTS - OF THE
218,017 BALLOTS MAILED IN,
00:09:3538,071 WERE FROM REGISTERED
DEMOCRATS, WHILE 38,451 WERE
00:09:44FROM REGISTERED REPUBLICANS.
WITH EARLY VOTING NOW UNDERWAY,
00:09:48THE PUSH TO GET VOTERS TO THE
POLLS STARTED BEFORE DAWN ON
00:09:51TUESDAY.
DEMOCRATS CAMPED OUT ON EARLY
00:09:55VOTING EVE OUTSIDE SEVERAL
EARLY VOTING SITES IN CUYAHOGA,
00:09:59HAMILTON AND FRANKLIN COUNTY -
THE LATTER HAS SET UP AN EARLY
00:10:03VOTING CENTER AWAY FROM ITS
MAIN OFFICES IN DOWNTOWN
00:10:05COLUMBUS.
THEY DID THE CAMPOUTS TO RAISE
00:10:08AWARENESS OF THE START OF EARLY
VOTING AND ALSO TO ENCOURAGE
00:10:11VOTING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
EARLY VOTING PERIOD, SINCE
00:10:13THERE MAY BE NO WEEKEND VOTING
LATER.
00:10:14MEANWHILE, REPUBLICANS WEREN'T
STANDING IN LINE TO VOTE IN BIG
00:10:20NUMBERS FOR THE START OF EARLY
VOTING, BUT THE PARTY'S
00:10:23VOLUNTEERS WERE STILL WORKING ON
THEIR SUPPORTERS ON THE PHONE
00:10:26BANKS.
SCOTT JENNINGS IS THE OHIO
00:10:29STATE DIRECTOR OF ROMNEY FOR
PRESIDENT, AND TALKED ABOUT THE
00:10:32CAMPAIGN'S STRATEGY ON THE FIRST
DAY OF EARLY VOTING.
00:10:34>> WE HAD EARLY VOTING RALLIES
IN THREE COUNTIES THIS MORNING.
00:10:42WE HAD THE EARLY VOTING EXPRESS'
IN THREE COUNTIES EARLY THIS
00:10:46AFTERNOON.
WE HAVE EARLY VOTING IN THREE
00:10:48COUNTIES THE NEXT DAY AND THREE
COUNTIES THE NEXT DAY.
00:10:50WE ARE ALSO SENDING A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT OF MAIL TO PEOPLE TO
00:10:54REMIND THEM ABOUT EARLY VOTING
IN TO TURN IN THEIR ABSENTEE
00:10:59APPLICATIONS.
WE HAVE KNOCKED ON THE MILITANT
00:11:01DOOR -- ON THE MILLIONTH DOOR.
I FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT WHERE WE
00:11:07ARE.
VOLUNTEERS ARE EXCITED THAT
00:11:10BALLOTS ARE NOW LIVE AND THAT
AND START TELLING PEOPLE, IF YOU
00:11:13ARE SO EXCITED FOR ROMNEY-RYAN,
GET OUT AND VOTE TODAY AND JOIN
00:11:18ME AT THE VICTORY CENTER.
>> AT THE HEADQUARTERS FOR THE
00:11:26OHIO DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN
COLUMBUS, VOLUNTEERS ARE MAKING
00:11:31PHONE CALLS.
LIZ BROWN IS THE COORDINATOR
00:11:40FOR OBAMA FOR AMERICA.
>> WE ARE ENTHUSIASTIC.
00:11:42WE WILL PUSH OUR VOTERS TO THE
POLLS BETTER.
00:11:46IN THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF EARLY
VOTING, WE'VE SEEN THE RESULTS
00:11:51IN THAT ORGANIZATION.
ON THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY
00:11:55VOTING IN SEVERAL COUNTIES, KEY
DEMOCRATIC COUNTIES, WE HAVE
00:12:00DOUBLED THE TURNOUT.
THAT IS VERY, VERY GOOD FOR
00:12:03DEMOCRATS.
EARLY VOTING IT FAVORS
00:12:08DEMOCRATS.
>> IN MOST COUNTIES, VOTERS WILL
00:12:10GO TO REGULAR BOARD OF ELECTION
OFFICES TO CAST BALLOTS.
00:12:16IN A HANDFUL OF COUNTIES, THERE
ARE EARLY VOTING CENTERS.
00:12:21ONE MAN THINKS THAT ALL THIS
SPACE MAY BE NEEDED.
00:12:28>> IF THE PAST ELECTIONS ARE ANY
INDICATION, THERE WILL BE A LOT
00:12:32OF EXCITEMENT EARLY ON.
WE WILL GET TO THE HALFWAY POINT
00:12:39WHERE WE HAD ALMOST AS MANY
SHOWED UP TO VOTE IN PERSON AS
00:12:47THE FIRST DAY OF ABSENTEE
VOTING IN 2008.
00:12:50AND THAT WAS AT OUR RECORD
TURNOUT.
00:12:53>> MOST OF VOTERS WHO CAME OUT
ON THE FIRST DAY SEEM TO FEEL
00:12:58RELIEVED TO GET IT DONE AND THAT
THERE WERE NOT LONG LINES TO
00:13:02CONTEND WITH.
>> I JUST WANT TO GET OUT AND
00:13:04VOTE.
ON ELECTION DAY, THE LINES WILL
00:13:07BE LONG.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE MY VOICE IS
00:13:10ACTUALLY HEARD.
>> ARE YOU SURPRISED THERE WERE
00:13:13NOT MORE PEOPLE?
>> OH, I AM WALKING STRAIGHT UP.
00:13:20I AM GOING TO VOTE.
THERE IS
00:13:22.
IT IS GREAT.
00:13:23I DID NOT HAVE TO WAIT IN LINE
OR ANYTHING.
00:13:26>> GET IT DONE.
KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO.
00:13:28NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE MY
VOTE.
00:13:31>> ARE YOU WORRIED THAT ANYTHING
WILL HAPPEN?
00:13:34YOU DO NOT SEEM TO BE.
>> NO, NOT.
00:13:37JUST WANT TO GET IT DONE.
>> WE DECIDED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE
00:13:41OF IT NOW IN CASE THERE IS AN
ISSUE LATER ON.
00:13:45WE ARE A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE
WITH MAILING, SO WE DECIDED TO
00:13:49DO IT BY MACHINE.
>> I AM FLOORED THERE ARE NOT
00:13:51MANY, MANY MORE PEOPLE HERE
TODAY.
00:13:54>> WITH ALL THE CALLS HE MIGHT
BE GETTING?
00:13:58" EVERYBODY KNOWS, AT LEAST I
THOUGHT, -- >> EVERYBODY KNOWS,
00:14:02AT LEAST I THOUGHT, THAT EARLY
VOTING STARTS TODAY.
00:14:06YEA FOR ME.
I DID NOT HAVE TO WAIT.
00:14:08BUT COME ON, OHIO.
>>
00:14:19ABOUT 30 PERCENT OF VOTERS CAST
BALLOTS EARLY IN THE
00:14:22PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 2008.
ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT
00:14:24ELECTION SEASON IS THE GREAT
CONVERSATIONS THAT RESULT FROM
00:14:26ALL THE POLITICKING IN OHIO AND
ELSEWHERE AND OFTEN THOSE
00:14:28DISCUSSIONS BRING TOGETHER SOME
PEOPLE WITH WELL-KNOWN NAMES AND
00:14:30IMPRESSIVE RESUMES.
THAT WAS THE CASE LAST WEEK AT
00:14:32THE OHIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY,
WHERE A PANEL WAS CONVENED TO
00:14:35TAKE ON THIS TITLE: "BRIDGING
THE DIVIDE AN ADULT
00:14:37CONVERSATION ABOUT OHIO
POLITICS, FOR A CHANGE".
00:14:40THE PANEL WAS MODERATED BY ANN
FISHER OF WOSU, WHO HAD THE
00:14:45ENVIABLE JOB OF PICKING THE
BRAINS OF SOME POLITICAL HEAVY
00:14:47HITTERS: THOMAS SUDDES, OHIO
UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR AND
00:14:50EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBER OF THE
CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER,
00:14:53REPUBLICAN FORMER OHIO GOV.
BOB TAFT, FORMER DEMOCRATIC
00:14:56CANDIDATE FOR LT. GOV.
AND CURRENT STATE SENATOR
00:15:00CHARLETA TAVARES OF COLUMBUS,
COLUMBUS-BASED REPUBLICAN
00:15:04CAMPAIGN CONSULTANT GENE
PIERCE, AND JONATHAN MILLER,
00:15:06FORMER TREASURER OF KENTUCKY AND
CO-FOUNDER OF NO LABELS, A
00:15:10GROUP CLAIMING A HALF A MILLION
DEMOCRATIC, REPUBLICAN AND
00:15:13INDEPENDENT POLITICIANS AND
PUNDITS THAT'S PUSHING SEVERAL
00:15:17WAYS THAT IT SAYS WILL MAKE
WASHINGTON WORK.
00:15:19HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE
DISCUSSION, STARTING WITH A
00:15:23LITTLE HISTORY ABOUT OHIO.
>> THE POLITICAL PATH OF THE --
00:15:31POLITICAL PAST OF THESE STATE IS
OHIO IS EVENLY DIVIDED
00:15:34POLITICALLY.
ALLIANCE IS A CLOSELY DIVIDED IT
00:15:43STAYED WITH REPUBLICANS ENJOYING
AN ADVANTAGE.
00:15:46I THINK THAT REMAINS TRUE TO
DEAD, WITH -- TODAY, WITH SOME
00:15:52IFS, ANDS, AND BUT.
OHIO IN MANY RESPECTS IS REALLY
00:15:58A COMPOSITE OR ALMOST A MOSAIC
OF OTHER TYPES OF CULTURE.
00:16:02THINK OF IT AS A LAYER CAKE.
A LOT OF THE POLITICAL
00:16:08ATTRIBUTES OF THE UPPER SOUTH.
VIRGINIA, KENTUCKY, MARYLAND.
00:16:11THE METAL PARTS OF THE STATE OF
THE INFLUENCE OF PENNSYLVANIA,
00:16:18THE POLITICAL CULTURE.
AND THE NORTHERN PART IS
00:16:22INFLUENCED HEAVILY BY THE
POLITICS OF NEW ENGLAND AND NEW
00:16:25YORK STATE.
I AM TALKING ABOUT POLITICAL
00:16:29STRUCTURES.
IN MANY RESPECTS, TO ADVANCE AN
00:16:33ISSUE OR WIN A CANDIDACY, YOU
HAVE TO BE A COALITION VOTER.
00:16:37YOU HAVE TO BUILD ALLIANCES
AMONG PEOPLE.
00:16:40>> OHIO IS REALLY A MICROCOSM
OF THE UNITED STATES.
00:16:44LOOKING AT THE PARTISAN DIVIDE
IN WASHINGTON, I AM TEACHING A
00:16:48COURSE ON THE U.S. CONGRESS AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON, WERE
00:16:51CURRENTLY IN THE U.S. CONGRESS
THERE IS NO OVERLAP BETWEEN
00:16:56DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE MOST
00:16:58CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRAT IS MORE
LIBERAL THAN THE MOST LIBERAL
00:17:01REPUBLICAN.
I THINK FIRST OF ALL, THAT HAS
00:17:06BEEN LESS TRUE IN THE STATE OF
OHIO.
00:17:09TED STRICKLAND, FOR EXAMPLE.
YOU MIGHT SAY HE IS MORE OF A
00:17:13MODERATE DEMOCRAT.
DAVID HOBSON, WHO WAS IN MY
00:17:20CLASS, HE IS MORE OF A MODERATE
REPUBLICAN.
00:17:24>> WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW STATES
WITH SOME MANY URBAN CENTERS.
00:17:29WE HAVE THE URBAN CENTERS IN THE
REST OF THE STATE BEING RURAL
00:17:34AND SUBURBAN.
SO, THAT ALSO PLAYS INTO THE
00:17:38MIX OF DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS AND IDEOLOGIES AS
00:17:41WELL AS THE CULTURES OF THOSE
COMMUNITIES.
00:17:45FOR ME, UNFORTUNATELY RIGHT
NOW, THE OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY
00:17:50IS VERY MUCH DIVIDED, AND WE
HAVE GONE EXTREMA ON BOTH SIDES
00:17:55OF THE AISLE.
>> THE CULTURAL TIES ARE
00:17:59DISSIPATING OVER TIME.
THE SECOND GENERATION, A THIRD-
00:18:03GENERATION.
THEY DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH WITH
00:18:06THE SAME ACCENT AS THEIR FATHER
OR THEIR GRANDFATHER SPOKE.
00:18:09I THINK IT SEEMS ODD THAT AS WE
GET MORE AND MORE LIKE EACH
00:18:14OTHER THAT THE DIFFERENCES, WE
ARE PULLING FARTHER AND FARTHER
00:18:17APART.
AND MAYBE BECAUSE YOU DID NOT
00:18:20HAVE THOSE CULTURAL TIES YOU CAN
SETTLE DOWN AND SAY, LOOK, I AM
00:18:25I GOING TO -- AND MAY BE A
REPUBLICAN, BUT I COME FROM THE
00:18:29SAME PLACE AS YOU DID.
MY HOME IS YOUR MOM.
00:18:33NOW WE DO NOT HAVE THOSE
CULTURAL AFFINITIES THAT WE USED
00:18:35TO HAVE.
-- MY HOME IS YOUR HOME.
00:18:39THERE ARE SMALLER AND SMALLER
THINGS BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT A
00:18:44SHRINKING ECONOMIC PIE NOW
KEEPING A POLITICIAN CANNOT
00:18:48FULFIL EVERY PROMISE HE OR SHE
ONCE MADE.
00:18:50>> OHIO IS CRITICAL WHEN IT
COMES TO THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE
00:18:55AND THE PRESIDENT.
WHAT I HAVE HEARD A LOT IS WE
00:18:59HAVE NEVER HAD A REPUBLICAN
PRESIDENT THAT HAS NOT WON IN
00:19:03OHIO.
WE SAW IN 2004, WE WERE WAITING
00:19:06UP ON NIGHTS WAITING TO SEE WHAT
HAPPENED IN OHIO.
00:19:10THERE'S A LOT TALK THIS YEAR
ABOUT OBAMA'S INCREASE IN MARCH
00:19:14AND I KNOW -- IN OHIO.
IF IT STAYS THAT WAY, IT BECOMES
00:19:18INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT FOR
ROMNEY TO DO THE ELECTORAL MATH
00:19:21TO WIN THE COUNTRY.
IF I AM I AND R READ STATE NOW,
00:19:26A BLUE STATE NOW, THAT IS THE
BAD NEWS.
00:19:30THE GOOD NEWS IS WE DO NOT GET
ALL OF YOUR NEGATIVE ADS.
00:19:34EXCEPT NORTHERN KENTUCKY.
BUT IT CERTAINLY DOES MATTER TO
00:19:39A LOT OF US HOW OHIO TWO VOTES.
I KNOW A LOT OF KENTUCKY
00:19:43ACTIVISTS IN BOTH PARTIES COME
UP TO CINCINNATI, GO OVER TO
00:19:47DAYTON, MAYBE TO SPORTS SMITH --
TO PORTSMOUTH TO VOLUNTEER TO GO
00:19:53DOOR TO DOOR TO CHANGE THE
SELECTION.
00:19:56IN THAT WAY YOU HAVE BEEN
AUGMENTED DISPROPORTIONATE
00:19:59INFLUENCE OVER OUR DEMOCRACY.
>> THE PANELISTS ALSO REFLECTED
00:20:04ON COMMON CRITICISMS ABOUT
POLITICS FROM POLITICIANS AND
00:20:06FROM THOSE THEY REPRESENT
INCLUDING THE ROLE OF MONEY, THE
00:20:08TIME SPENT FUNDRAISING, THE LACK
OF CAMARADERIE AMONG LAWMAKERS,
00:20:11THE FADING INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY,
AND THE LONG-TERM EFFECT OF
00:20:16TERM LIMITS.
>> SPEAKING TO SOME OF MY STAFF
00:20:23AND ALSO MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY, WHY HAS THIS BECOME
00:20:26PERHAPS MORE PARTISAN?
TERM-LIMITS ALWAYS COMES UP.
00:20:29PEOPLE ARE NOT HERE VERY LONG.
THEY DO NOT HAVE TIME TO MAKE A
00:20:34RELATIONSHIP.
THEY ARE WORKING ON THE NEXT
00:20:36JOB, MAYBE MOVING INTO THE
SENATE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
00:20:38THEY JUST DO NOT HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW
00:20:42PEOPLE ACROSS THE AISLE.
>> AND NO ONE IS HERE LONG
00:20:45ENOUGH TO INTRODUCE YOU.
I THINK THE OTHER THING AS FAR
00:20:49AS NOT GETTING TO KNOW EACH
OTHER, THERE IS NO INCENTIVE TO
00:20:52GET TO KNOW SOMEONE BECAUSE
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE THERE
00:20:55THAT LONG.
THE GOVERNOR IS ALSO RIGHT.
00:20:58PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT -- IF I
WANT TO STAY IN PUBLIC OFFICE,
00:21:02WHAT IS THE NEXT OFFICE THAT IS
OPEN THAT I CAN RUN FOR BEFORE I
00:21:08END MY TERM?
TERM LIMITS, AND I WAS A STAFF
00:21:15MEMBER TO A STATE LEGISLATOR,
AND I REMEMBER THE DAYS OF THE
00:21:21GALLERIA AND THE DAYS OF
CAMARADERIE AMONG MEMBERS OF THE
00:21:24HOUSE AND THE SENATE.
U.S. AND OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO
00:21:28EACH OTHER, GET TO KNOW EACH
OTHER.
00:21:30IT IS HARDER TO SAY NEGATIVE
THINGS TOWARD SOMEONE THAT YOU
00:21:34KNOW.
SOMEONE THAT YOU KNOW -- YOU
00:21:36KNOW THEIR FAMILIES.
THE UPS AND DOWNS THEY ARE GOING
00:21:39THROUGH.
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE
00:21:41OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW
SOMEONE, IT IS EASIER TO SAY
00:21:45NEGATIVE THINGS.
IT IS EASIER TO SAY HURTFUL
00:21:47THINGS.
THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS.
00:21:49>> THIS IS A REALLY BIG PROBLEM
ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
00:21:53YOU MENTIONED OHIO BEEN A
MICROCOSM.
00:21:56PARTISAN DIVIDE HAS BECOME
BUNKERS, BASICALLY, WHERE
00:22:03REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE
SEPARATING AND REALLY ONLY
00:22:08YELLING AT EACH OTHER ON C-SPAN.
A QUICK EXAMPLE.
00:22:11MY CONGRESSMAN IN LEXINGTON
HAPPENS TO BE A FRIEND OF MINE.
00:22:15I ASKED HIM THE DAY AFTER PAUL
RYAN WAS NOMINATED, WHAT DO YOU
00:22:18THINK ABOUT THE GUY?
I HAVE READ ABOUT HIM.
00:22:21WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT HIM?
IS THAT, I HAVE NEVER REALLY MET
00:22:25HIM.
AND THAT IS NOT REALLY AN ODD
00:22:29THING.
THERE IS IS VERY REAL ISSUE OF
00:22:32CONGRESS GOING UP FOR A COUPLE
DAYS, SPENDING THEIR TIME AT
00:22:35NIGHT FUNDRAISING, THEN GETTING
BACK TO THE DISTRICT, SPENDING
00:22:38MOST OF THEIR TIME FUNDRAISING.
THERE IS NOT THE SOCIAL
00:22:42INTERACTION LIKE THERE USED TO.
WOULD LOVE TO POINT AT THE
00:22:46RONALD REAGAN SLASHED THE BUS
MEAL MODEL.
00:22:49-- RONALD REAGAN-TIP O'NEILL
MODEL.
00:22:56IF YOU DO NOT GET TO KNOW THE
OTHER SIDE, YOU ARE MUCH MORE
00:23:03LIKELY TO VIEW THEM AS THE ENEMY
INSTEAD OF THE RIVAL PARTY.
00:23:07>> THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE
MORE THEY STAY THE SAME.
00:23:11YOU GET ELECTED ONCE, YOU ARE
GOOD FOR THE NEXT 25 YEARS --
00:23:18THROWING THE GERRYMANDERED
DISTRICT AND YOU ARE SAFE.
00:23:20YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
YOUR VOTE.
00:23:23YOU WORRY ABOUT YOURSELF, NOT
YOUR DISTRICT.
00:23:27IS THE SAME ANIMOSITY THAT FUELS
THE TEA PARTY OVER THE CONGRESS.
00:23:31THAT SAME ANGER WAS FOCUSED IN
OHIO IN 1995 OR WHATEVER WAS
00:23:38OVER TERM LIMITS.
NOW WE SEE IT.
00:23:42THE TEA PARTY IS JUST AS UPSET
AT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AS THEY
00:23:47ARE AT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
>> THEY WILL DEVELOP EXPERTISE
00:23:56IN ANY ONE AREA -- THE TIME WAS
WHATEVER SIDE OF THE AISLE YOU
00:24:01WERE ON COME -- YOU WERE ON, ONE
THAT WAS RECENTLY IN THE NEWS
00:24:08WAS PENSION FUNDING.
URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
00:24:11MAYBE SOMEONE ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE AISLE MAY OR MAY NOT BE
00:24:15WITH YOU ON THAT PARTICULAR
BILL, BUT IT COULD SAFELY AND
00:24:17COMFORTABLY GO TO THAT PERSON
BECAUSE HE OR SHE WAS ON THE
00:24:21COMMITTEE FOR A LONG TIME --
PARTICULARLY ON THE FINANCE
00:24:25COMMITTEE'S -- AND THEY WOULD
HELP YOU THREAD NEEDLE.
00:24:26WHAT WE FORGET THAT SOMETIMES --
WE ARE ALL HUMAN AND NOT PERFECT
00:24:35PEOPLE -- LEGISLATORS ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE TRUSTIES OR
00:24:41GUARDIANS.
LET'S SAY YOU HAVE A
00:24:44SUBSTANTIAL ESTATE.
DO YOU WANT SOMEONE WHO WILL
00:24:46PRESERVE ESTATE FOR A DESCENDANT
OF YOURS?
00:24:48A GRANDCHILD, AND NIECE OR
NEPHEW?
00:24:53DO YOU WANT SOMEONE TO COME IN
EVERY TWO WEEKS AT THE BANK --
00:25:00SOMEONE NEW COME IN EVERY WEEK?
THIS GOVERNMENT WE HAVE IS KIND
00:25:05OF AN ESTATE OR PATRIMONY.
AGAIN, MAYBE THAT IS BUILDING
00:25:11THE DANDELION A LITTLE BIT.
I WOULD SAY THAT IS NOT WISE.
00:25:19I DO NOT THINK IT IS WISE AT
ALL.
00:25:23>> YOU CAN WATCH THE FULL
PROGRAM ON THE OHIO CHANNEL, AT
00:25:27OHIOCHANNEL.ORG.
AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK.
00:25:28FOR MY COLLEAGUES AT OHIO PUBLIC
RADIO AND TELEVISION, THANKS FOR
00:25:30WATCHING.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS,
00:25:32MAKE COMMENTS, OR WATCH THIS
WEEK'S SHOW OR EARLIER EPISODES,
00:25:34PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT
STATENEWS.ORG.
00:25:36YOU CAN ALSO CHECK US OUT ON
FACEBOOK.
00:25:38AND PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN NEXT
TIME FOR "THE STATE OF OHIO".
00:25:40>> SUPPORT FOR THE STATEWIDE
BROADCAST OF "THE STATE OF OHIO"
00:26:15COMES FROM THE LAW OFFICES OF --
HELPING BUSINESSES AND
00:26:21INDIVIDUAL -- INDIVIDUALS SOLVE
COMPLEX LEGAL PROBLEMS ACROSS
00:26:25OHIO AND THE WORLD.
AND FROM THE OHIO EDUCATION
00:26:29ASSOCIATION, REPRESENTING
131,000 TEACHERS, SUPPORT
00:26:33PROFESSIONALS, AND HIGHER
EDUCATION FACULTY WORKING FOR
00:26:37GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR EVERY
CHILD.
00:26:39ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE STATE
Note : Transcripts are compiled from uncorrected captions