♪ >> WELCOME BACK TO THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT'S EDITION OF OFF THE RECORD.

OUR LEAD STORIES, THE BENDING OF THE COVID CURVE.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS IT'S HAPPENING.

A NEW REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR AND THE BATTLE OVER APPROXIMATE PIPELINE LETS UP.

ON THE OTR PANEL, JIM KIERTZNER, ZONEE CLARK AND CHAD LANE OFG.

INSIDE OUT AS WE ARE OFF THE RECORD.

>> PRODUCTION OF OFF THE RECORD IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY BUSINESS LEADERS OF # INDEX# HAS A STRATEGIC PLANTS TO MAKE # INDEX# THE TOP 10 STATEN FOR JOBS.

MORE AT MITCHGAN'S ROAD TO TOP 10.

NOW, THIS EDITION OF "OFF THE RECORD" WITH TIM SKUBICK.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WELCOME TO THIS ZOOM HE HAD DEPOSITION OF "OFF THE RECORD."

A HUGE NEWSWEEK AS WE TALK ABOUT COVID, WE TALK ABOUT A GUY RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AND WE TALK ABOUT PIPELINE 5 WITH THIS GREAT PAJ WE HAVE ASSEMBLED.

NANCY, PAD, JIMMY, Z, NICE TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE GOVERNOR WAS SAYING ABOUT COVID.

LOOKS LIKE THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER.

>> TO BE SURE.

THEY WERE NOT EXACTLY SINGING "HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN" BUT THE GOVERN AND HER CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER WERE CERTAINLY UPBEAT.

>> WE ARE SHAKING BIG PROMISE AND IT'S TIME TO FEEL OPTIMISTIC.

I AM PLEASED WITH THE PROGRESS THAT WE ARE MAKING TOWARDS ENDING THIS PANDEMIC.

ALL OF THE METRICS WE ARE TRACKING FOR COVID-19 ARE DECREASING.

>> THERE HAS BEEN A 4-WEEK OR 60% DROP-OFF IN THE NUMBER OF COVID CASES IN MICHIGAN, DOWN TO 9.8%.

THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT AROUND 3%.

ABOUT 12% OF ALL HOSPITAL BEDS HAVE COVID PATIENTS IN THEM.

A 30% REDUCTION.

IN ADDITION, 70% OF SENIOR CITIZENS ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

55 PERCENT HAVE HAD THEIR FIRST?

>> WHILE ANOTHER 40% ARE FULLY VACCINATED WITH 6.6 MILLION SHOTS ADMINISTERED SO FAR.

>> AS THE NUMBER OF MICHIGANDERS, INC.

LEASES, OUR COVID NUMBERS DECREASE.

TWO WEEKS INTO MAY, WE HAVE BENT THE CURVE.

>> WITH 55 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION WITH AT LEAST ONE?

>>, THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES.

>> ON MONDAY, MAY 24TH, WE ANTICIPATE THAT M IOS HA WILL TAKE ACTION ALLOWING OFFICES TO ALLOW IN-PERSON WORK FOR ALL WORKERS.

>> FAMILY DOCTORS ARE URGING PARENTS TO GET THEIR 12 TO 15-YEAR-OLDS VACCINATED ASAP.

BUT YET, AGAINST ALL OF THIS GOOD NEWS, THIS WARNING.

>> WE ARE IN A NEW PHASE OF FIGHTING THIS VIRUS.

BUT THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT OVER.

>> NANCY, WHEN YOU HEARD THIS STUFF FROM THE GOVERNOR, WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST REACTION SHALL DID YOU GET A SENSE THAT WE ARE MAYBE MOVING A LITTLE TOO FAST OR NOT?

>> YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY PERSON WHO GETS VACCINATED IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I CONTINUE TO BE WORRIED AS I AM SURE MOST OF US DO ABOUT FOLKS WHO ARE VACCINE HESITANT AS WE CALL IT.

WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO GET ON BOARD.

WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO GET VACCIN-ASSED I THINK THIS IS PART OF THIS EVER-EVOLVING MATRIX BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS MORE PEOPLE HAVE TO GET THE?

>>.

>> JIMMY WHAT WAS YOUR TAKE.

>> I THINK THEY ARE TRYING TO PERSONPETUATE IT'S GOOD NEWS.

WE NEED TO KEEP THE TRAIN GOING DOWN THE TRACK.

IF THEY WANT TO ADDRESS THIS VACCINE HESITANCY AS WELL AND GET THE NUMBERS UP.

SHE HAS THIS INCENTIVE PROGRAM WITH BENCHMARKS IF WE REACH THESE LEVELS OF VACCINATION, MORE THINGS ARE GOING TO OPEN UP.

BUT I COULD TALK A LOT ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING JUST TO THE SOUTH OF US IN OHIO WHEN ALL OF THE RESTRICTIONS ARE GOING TO BE LIFTED BY THAT GOVERNOR ON JUNE THE 2ND.

THEY ARE ONLY AT A 41 PERCENT START RATE FOR VACCINATIONS, NOT FULLY VACCINATED.

THEY ARE BEHIND US BUT AHEAD OF US.

>> CHAD?

>> YEAH, TIM, I THINK THE HEAD LINE THIS MORNING IS BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD FOR GOVERNOR WHITMER AND HER VACCINATION RE-OPENING PLAN.

THE CDC'S GUIDANCE YESTERDAY THAT ANYBODY WHO IS FULLY VACCINATED CAN NOW SHED THEIR MASK IF THEY ARE INDOORS.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO SOCIAL DISTANCE.

THIS IS REALLY GOING TO UP-END THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN FOR THIS 70% THRESHOLD.

WE ARE AT 55.4% RIGHT NOW OF PEOPLE WITH AT LEAST ONE SHOT.

GETTING TO 70% IS LIKE ANOTHER 1.4 MILLION VOLUNTEERS AND WE ARE SUB 200,000 PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN SHOTS THIS WEEK.

THAT'S FIRST AND SECONDS.

I MEAN, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE LINING UP RIGHT NOW HAS JUST PLUMMETED AND WE'RE GOING TO PLATEAU HERE YES, NOW, WE ALSO HAVE OHIO OPENING UP IN JUST A FEW WEEKS RIGHT AFTER MEMORIAL DAY.

I THINK THE PRESSURE IS GOING TO BE ON THE GOVERNOR TO AMEND OR CHANGE THIS PLAN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE GRADUAL RE-OPENING OF ISN'T%, AND THE RESTAURANTS CAN STAY OPEN UNTIL 2:00 A.M. AND THE CAPACITIES CAN INCREASE IN BANQUET HAULS.

WEDDING PLANNERS ARE GOING NUTS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE YOU CAN ONLY HAVE 25 PEOPLE IN THE WEDDING HALL, BUT YOU CAN HAVE 100 PEOPLE AT A RESTAURANT FOR A WEDDING SHOWER.

>> Z?

WHAT SAY YOU?

>> TO CHAD'S POINT, THE ANNOUNCEMENT THURSDAY EVENING FROM THIS CDC IS A GAME CHANGER THE TYPE OF AS OF FRIDAY MORNING, WE ARE WAITING ON SEEING WHAT MDD HS IS GOING TO DO ABOUT THAT.

TO CHAD'S POINT OF A CHANGE IS NEEDED, YOU KNOW, ON WEDNESDAY, WHEN WHITMER WAS HAVING HER PRESS CONFERENCE, SHE BASICALLY SAID IT IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT.

IT IS GOING TO BE HARD TO GET TO 60, TO 65, TO 70, WHEN THESE NEXT BENCHMARKS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE MET.

SHE WAS ON MICHIGAN RADIO AND SAID AS: DEPENDING UPON WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, WE MAY HAVE TO CHANGE THESE BENCH MARKS AS WE SEE POSITIVITY RATES DECREASE, ALBEIT SLOWER THAN I THINK MOST FOLKS WANTS GETTING TO 65, 7 IS GOING TO BE HEARTED IF WE DON'T SEE SOME CHANGE WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE SEEN FROM THE BEGINNING WHERE IN A HISTORIC GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

YOU MIGHT HAVE TO CHANGE ON APPROXIMATE HUMAN BEHAVIOR.

>> I THINK SHE WILL ADD TWO MORE BASED ON WHAT OUR GUESTS SAID LAST WEEK, THE LOW BACKIST FROM THE RESTAURANTS ASSOCIATION SAID THEY WERE IN DEEP DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ABOUT ADDING TEST POSITIVITY AND HOSPITALIZATION RATES.

IF WE CAN'T GET TO THAT MAGIC NUMBER OF 70%, WE CAN GET TO WHERE WENT TO CHANGE THESE RULES BY ADDING DIFFERENT METRICS TO THE EQUATION.

>> EXACTLY.

>> GOOD PUBLIC POLICY OR JUST WHISTLING THROUGH THE 8 YARD?

>> I THINK APPROXIMATE WE NEED A WAY TO MANAGE OUR OWN RISK.

WE HAVE HAD THIS COMPLEX WEB OF THING BEING CONSIDERED.

S 723S, I KNOW I AM NOT GOING TO NEED A COAT.

I AM GOING TO WEAR SOMETHING LIGHT-WEIGHT.

IF IT'S GOING TO BE SUNNY, I DON'T NEED AN UMBRELLA.

WE NEED A WAY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN A WAY MOST PEOPLE COULD UNDERSTAND.

IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE HAD METRICS THAT MADE SENSE THAT COULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO SAY, CASES ARE RISE CAN.

RESTAURANTS SHOULD PROBABLY PREPARE FOR DIMINISHED DISMAL.

WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT THE WHOLE TIME.

I THINK A LOT OF THIS IS HAD HE HAS TO BE RESPONSIVE TOENTS.

IT'S A GAME CHANGER BUT AN OPERATIONAL NIGHTMARE BECAUSE HOW DO YOU KNOW WITH HALF OF US VACCINATED AND THE VACCINATED PERMITTED TO FOREGO THESE RESTRICTIONS, IS HOW ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO KNOW THIS?

AS THE PARENT OF A YOUNG CHILD, ANOTHER PARENT IN OHIO, SINCE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OHIO THAT I AM TRENDS WITH CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN MINE SAID SHE WAS PREPARING TO TAKE HER KIDS OUT BUT NOW WITH A RESTRICTION FREE ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU DON'T KNOW WHO IN THE ROOM IS VACCINATED, WHO ISN'T AND YOUNG CHILDREN WHO CAN'T, DOES THIS MEAN YOU HAVE TO PULL THEM BACK FROM THINGS YOU WOULD HAVE STARTED DOING BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW.

I AM NOT WORRIED.

I FEEL LIKE THE VACCINE PROTECTS ME SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GOING TO GET SIMPLER.

>> CHAD, WOULD WHEN MAY 24TH ROLLS AROUND, YOU HAVE CLOSE TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

WILL EVERYBODY OPEN YOUR OFFICE AND SAY PACK YOUR LUNCH.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A PARTY IN THE BACK ROOM, YOU KNOW, IS IS THIS GOING TO HAPPEN >> NO.

SOME OF OUR BIGGEST CORPORATIONS ARE CAGING THE WAY WORK IS GOING TO LOOK LIKELY.

WHY EN RECALL MOTORS AND FORD HAVE BOTH KIND OF COME UP WITH MAJOR THINGS THEY ARE THEY AFFIRMATIVE REQUIRING PEOPLE TO GO BACK.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE COMING BACK MAYBE TWO DAYS A WEEK, WORK IN THE OFFICE AS THEY NEED IT AND SOME OF THE OTHER, YOU KNOW, BIG DOWNTOWN DETROIT COMPANIES ARE TAKING THAT SAME APPROACH OR PUSHED IT OFF INTO JULY OR SOMETIME DOWN IN THE SUMMER OR ALMOST A LABOR DAY.

I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE A VAR BIG MIX THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT HOW OUR WORK FORK COMES BACK WHEN PEOPLE RE-ENTER WORKFORCE.

WE HAVE THIS HUGE ISSUE OF CHILD CARE THAT THERE ARE SOME MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE THAT WANTS TO TACKLE THAT.

THERE IS BI-PARTISAN TALK.

>> THAT'S NOT -- WE VENT GOTTEN ANYWHERE ON THAT THIS SPIC YET GOING TO GO BACK TO THE OFFICE MASKLESS ESSENTIALLY WITHIN WEEKS.

>> JIM, ARE YOU EXCITED TO GET BACK INTO A NOWY NEWSROOM.

>> IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AT CHANNEL 7 ANY TIME SOON.

THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT THEY HAVE ASKED EMPLOYEES TO VOLUME UNTARILY REPORT IF THEY HAVE BEEN VACCINATED AND WE HAVE AN OPTION TO OPT IN OR OPT OUT, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE EXACT COUNT ON THAT IS YET.

I THINK THEY ARE TAKING A VERY CAREFUL, CONSERVATIVE APPROACH.

TO CHAD'S POINT, I THINK A LOT OF BUSINESSES ARE, THERE IS ANODE ADAGE WHEN YOU WANT TO MAKE A VERY IMPORTANT DECISION, YOU WANT THE MOST AND BEST INFORMATION IN FROM THE OF YOU BEFORE YOU DO THAT.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF THESE BUSINESSES ARE DOING.

EVERYTHING IS EVOLVING, AND I DON'T WANT TO PULL THE TRIGGER ON THAT DECISION JUST YET.

YOU HAD A THOUGHT IN MY HEAD TO YOUR EARLIER POINT ABOUT THE GOVERNOR AND WHAT IS SHE GOING TO HAVE TO DO WITH THE GAME-CHANGING CDC GUIDANCE CHANGE?

THREE WORDS COME TO MIND.

I THINK SHE IS GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE AND WILL WANT SOME POLITICAL COVER.

>> MAYBE THIS WILL BE THE NEWS CONFERENCE WHERE SHE ACTUALLY INVITES THE TWO REPUBLICANS TO HOLD HER HAND WHILE THEY GO OVER THE CLIFF TOGETHER, Z.

>> YEAH.

>> HEY THEY DO.

YOU CAN'T TELL.

LET'S SEGUE INTO OUR OTHER BIG STORY THIS WEEK.

WE HAD SOMEBODY DOWN IN DETROIT WHO SAID HE WAS GOING TO RETIRE, BUT THAT REALLY WASN'T THE STORY.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

THE SOON TO BE FORMER CHIEF JAMES LEE, THE MATCH-UP FOR GOVERN IN 2022.

BEFORE HE RUNS FOR GOVERNOR, HE WANTS EVERYBODY TO KNOW HE WAS NOT FIRED BY THE MAYOR.

I AM VOLUNTARILY LEAVING.

WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED TO MANY CHIEFS.

SOME WERE FORCED OUT.

SOME AM WERE FORCED OUT AND SOME WERE FIRED.

I AM LEAVING IN A GOOD PLACE.

>> AS FOR THAT BID FOR GOVERNOR, HE ANNOUNCED HE WAS A REPUBLICAN BUT ONLY SAID THIS ABOUT RUNNING.

EPHE WOULDN'T RULE IT OUT.

HE WOULDN'T RULE IT IN.

>> SINCE THE STORY BROKE, I HAVE GOTTEN COUNTLESS CALLS, TEXT MESSAGES, FACEBOOK SHOTS, E-MAILS FROM PEOPLE ACROSS THIS GREAT STATE, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WHO SAY THEY WANT ME TO SEEK OFFICIVER NOT MADE A DECISION.

I AM NOT RULING IT OUT.

>> HOWEVER, 6 NEWS HAS LEARNED FROM AT LEAST ONE SOURCE WHO WAS TOLD FACE TO FACE BY THE CHIEF THAT HE WILL, INDEED, RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

THE QUESTION IS: CAN HE GET THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION?

WHEN MILLIONAIRE DISK 4 DID HE HAVE ON THIS ANNOUNCED, EVERYBODY LEFT THE FIELD.

THEY WERE SCARED TO TAKE ON HIS MONEY.

CHEF CHIEF IS NO KNOWN TO BANKRUPT HIS OWN CAN DANCY.

HE IS LIKELY TO HAVE OPINION JURY IN A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY AS FOR THE DEMOCRAIC MAYOR, HE SAYS THIS ABOUT THAT.

>> I THINK GRETCHEN WHITMER HAS BEEN THE BEST PARTNER THE CITY HAS HAD IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IN DECADES AND I WILL BE SUPPORTING HER BUT AS CHIEF CRAIG CAN TELL YOU, WE EMPLOY ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES.

>> LOOK FOR THE CHIEF TO GET IN AFTER JUNE 1ST.

>> CHAD, IS THAT TRUE?

IS THIS GUY RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR?

>> I THINK HE IS RUNNING.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE ANY OTHER MAJOR ESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATE WHO GETS IN.

>> WAIT A MINUTE.

REQUEST WHY, THEY WILL.

I WILL NOT SURE.

WE CAN PLAY THIS TAKE ON JUNE 25TH AND SEE.

>> ONLY IF I AM WRONG.

>> TIM, ARE THE REPUBLICANS WERE GETTING DESPERATE FOR A TOP-TI EVEN R CANDIDATE WITH NO RECORD THAT COULD BE USED AGAINST THEM, I HAVE NAMED A LOT OF PEOPLE WE BELIEVE IN SOUTHEAST MITCHGAN, MAY MCHOME COUNTY, SOMEONE WHO COULDN'T HAVE A BUNCH OF BAGGAGE.

JOHN JAMES HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT DOING THIS.

YOU KNOW, RONNIE MCDANIEL TO TEST THE WATER BE BEGGED CANDACE MILLER TO NO EVENED TO DO IT.

SHE WOULDN'T DO IT.

WE HAVEN'T HEARD HISM DE NOR HARE SINCE HIS SHORT LIVED JOB IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WORTH THERE IS ANYBODY ELSE OUT THERE IT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF REPUBLICANS DO NOT WANT MIKE SHOOKEY TO RUN AND SO THERE IS A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE JUST BASICALLY KIND OF WERE NOT GOING TO WORK HAVE A BUNCH OF THINGS THERE.

HE DOESN'T HAVE A VOTING RECORD.

SO'S A CANDIDACY THAT REPUBLICANS ARE PRETTY GUIDE.

>> NANCY, SOUNDS LIKE ACCORDING TO MR. LIVENGOOD, THIS RACE IS OVER?

>> THAT'S KIND OF THE SENSE I AM GETTING IS THAT THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE ANOTHER BIG CANDIDATE.

THEY ARE HOPING CRAIG CAN A COME IN AND LOCK UP THE MONEY, LOCK UP THE SUPPORT AND MOVE FORWARD.

YES SEE THIS COMING.

IT SEEMS SURREAL AND STRANGE BUT THE LOGIC HANGS TOGETHER IF YOU ARE SORT OF WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT HE IS A VIABLE CANDIDATE, WHICH HE IS.

THEN, YEAH, THEN I GUESS IT ALL FLOWS FROM THERE.

IT'S NOT BAD WAY TO DO IT IF YOU ARE TRYING TO WIN.

>> YOU KNOW THE CHIEF PRETTY WELL.

WITH 4 YEARS UNDER HIS BELT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, DO YOU SUPPOSE THE RESEARCH FOLKS FOR GRETCHENMIT WHITMER MIGHT FIND SOMETHING THEY COULD USE AGAINST THIS GUY?

>> THERE IS THE FIRST LINE IN THEIR TV HIT ADD, THE CHIEF BECOMES A ROOKIE.

HE WILL BE A ROOKIE IN POLITICS.

WHAT DOES HE KNOW ABOUT ROADS?

WHAT DOES HE KNOW ABOUT HEALTHCARE?

WHAT DOES HE KNOW ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT?

ALL OF THOSE BIG ISSUES.

HE IS A CHIEF WHO HAS TAKEN A STRONG POSITION ON XWUN RIGHTS, ON THE GOVERN OF THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION BACK IN 2014, BECOME THE REPUBLICAN DARLING.

WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO ASK HIM ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS.

HE BRUSHED THEM ALL ASIDE ON MONDAY INCLUDING THE BIG COME SPARE SITUATE ABOUT THE VOTE.

WAS THE VOTE WIDESPREAD FREUD INCLUDING HERE IN # INDEX#?

I WANTED TO ASK HIM A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

HE'S BRUSHED ALL OF THOSE ASIDE FOR NOW.

HOW DOES HE WALK THROUGH THAT LAND MINE.

>> A GOOD QUESTION.

Z, IF YOU WERE SITTING AROUND THE CHIEF'S TABLES SAYING WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THIS DONE TRUMP THING?

DO WE WANT HIS ENDORSEMENT IN THIS RACE, WHAT'S THE ANSWER?

>> THIS IS THE EXACT ISSUE.

RIGHT?

IF I AM SITTING AROUND THE TABLE.

MAYBE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO IS ADVISING HIM WAS THE FIRST THING I WOULD HAVE SAID IS WOW THIS SO-CALLED ROLL-OUT?

YOU NOT ONLY HAVE A RIERPT GOING AWAY CONFERENCE IS WHERE YOUR BOSS SXWORZ THE PERSON YOU COULD BE RUNNING AGAINST, AND THEN YOU SAY, DO YOU ANSWER SOME POLITICS AND POLICY QUESTIONS THEN YOU ARE ASKED ABOUT THE QUOTE/UNQUOTE BIG LIE, YOU SAY YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT POLITICS.

IF I AM AT THAT TABLE, IT IS GOING, WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?

THE SECOND THING IS EXACTLY THAT.

TRUMP IS NOT AN 800 POUND GORILLA HE IS TALKING ABOUT.

HE IS IN THE ROOM, THE HEAD OF THE PARTY.

LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED TO LIZ CHENEY THIS WEEK.

HOW DOES THE CHIEF, WHEN ASKED IF HE BELIEVES THISLY WAS STOLEN OR DONALD TRUMP SHOULD BE P KROIT WAS GROUND ENTRY ROW WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS SAYING WHERE THERE WAS ELECTION FRAUD.

SO HERE IS A CITY THAT HE IS GOING TO REPRESENT OR TRY TO, GET VOTES FROM A CITY AND HE IS GOING TO SAY, BUT, YES, THERE WAS ALL OF THISCRIPTION AND I WAS THERE AND WATCHING IT, I MEAN THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE AN EASY ANSWER FOR HIM TO MAKE, AND I AM GLAD I AM NOT AT THAT TABLE.

THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS I HAVE.

IF THEY DON'T, TRUMP WILL NOT ENDORSE HIM.

IF THIS IS A PRIMARY AND IT ISN'T WITH WRAPPED UP, THAT IS GOING TO BE HUGE IN A REPUBLICAN PARTY PRIMARILY STILL.

>> CHAD, THE ANSWER, IS IT NOT, WE DO NOT WANT HIS ENDORSEMENT OR NOT.

>> I THINK THEY WOULD LIKE TO AVOID TRUMP IF THEY ARE GOING TO TRY TO MAKE SOME INROADS BACK WITH VOTERS THEY LOST IN OAKLAND COUNTIES.

>> JUST A SECOND.

JAMES DOWN HERE WAS JUST SHAKING HIS HEAD.

MAYBE HE WAS CLEANING -- YOU DON'T THINK HE IS RIGHT SOME COUNT THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT?

>> HERE IS -- >> SKRALZ, DO YOU WANT THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT, MAN?

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW HE'S GOING TO ANSWER THAT.

THAT'S THE SHORT ANSWER.

>> BACK TO YOU, CHAD.

[GO AHEAD, NANCY.

>> ASHEVILLE SHOOTING.

YOU WANT THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT FOR THE PRIMARY AND TO DISAPPEAR FOR THE GENERAL.

>> YOU THINK HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.

>> ALL OF THE THINGS THAT MEAN THAT HE'S NOT GOING TO GET A LOT OF DETROIT VOTES MEAN THAT HE IS PROBABLY GOING TO PLAY WELL IN PLACES LIKE MCCOMB COUNTY BIG REPUBLICAN STRONG HODES.

WILL IT WIN BACK PARTICULARLY SUBURBAN WOMEN WHO CROSSED THE AISLE CAN IN '18 AN 20 BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT TOLERATE THE PARTY OF TRUMP.

I DON'T KNOW IF CHIEF CRAIG IS A CANDIDATE TO BRING THOSE VOTERS BACK.

THE STUFF THAT HE CAN REALLY APPEAL TO OUT OF STATE VOTERS, DIE-HARD TRUMP REPUBLICANS, IT'S NOT LIKE MODERATE QUINNER TABLE ISSUES ARE STRONG LAW UNDER ORDER, DENOUNCING BLACK LIVES MATTER, PROTESTS HERE IN DETROIT.

THESE ARE NOT MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD ISSUE.

THESE ARE PRETTY EXTREME.

IS HE THE GUY WHO IS GOING TO WIN THEM BACK?

EMPLOYED.

>> WE SHOULD KNOW DURING THE PRESS CONFERENCE, HE BASICALLY NOTED LIKE THE CITY DIDN'T BURN UNDER MY WATCH.

THERE IS PLENTY OF CLIPS OUT THERE OF MIKE DUGGINS SAYING GOOD THINGS ABOUT JAMES CRAIG THAT CAN BE USED IN A CAMPAIGN.

THE ALARMINGER QUESTION IS, WHAT IS JAMES CRAIG RUNNING ON?

WHAT IS HIS PLATFORM JOHNED LAW AND ORDER?

YOU CHECK THAT BOX OFF.

WE HAVE GOT ROADS THAT NEED FIXED.

WE'VE GOT SCHOOLS THAT ARE UNDERFUNDED.

WE HAVE GOT A SOCIAL SAFETY NET THAT IS IN AT THAT TIMERS IN MULTIPLE PLACES.

CAPACITY YOUR PLATFORM FOR THAT?

LIKE I SAID EARLIER, WHAT'S YOUR PLATFORM FOR CHILD CARE?

TALK ABOUT A BREAD AND BUTTER ISSUE IN WOMEN VOTERS ARE INTERESTED IN, THAT'S ONE OF THEM.

HOW THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE ANSWERS THAT QUESTION IS GOING TO BE PRETTY VITAL TO THEIR ABILITY TO WIN BACK WOMEN VOTERS IN GENERAL >> GO AHEAD, NANCY THE.

>> WHEN I TALKED TO REPUBLICANS AFTER THE, YOU KNOW, NEWS BROKE ABOUT HIS CANDIDACY, POSSIBLE CANDIDACY, WHEN I ASKED WHAT'S THE ISSUE HE CAN CAMPAIGN ON?

I HEARD, "LEADERSHIP" I THINK I HEARD THAT ENOUGH TO WHERE I FEEL LIKE MAYBE IT'S A TALKING POINT IF LEADERSHIP IS YOUR QUALITY THAT YOU ARE CAMPAIGNING ON THAT'S VAR SPECIFIC.

HOW DO THOSE THINGS FLOW FLORIDA?

HOW CAN YOU INCREDIBLY SAY I WILL FIX CHILD CARE, THE ROAD, THE SCHOOLS OR THE COMPANY, ANOTHER CD RECOVERY.

LEADERSHIP?

>>.

>> ZOE, WHAT IF HE PULLS A RICK SCHNEIDER AND SAYS I AM NOT A CAREER POLITICIAN.

HOUR REFRESHING THAT WOULD BE.

COULD HE MAKE THAT POINT?

>> RIGHT.

BUT HOW IT WAS THAT RICK SCHNEIDER WON INITIALLY BECAUSE THERE WAS A CROWDED PRIMARY.

WRITE?

LIKE RICK NEEDER DIDN'T GET THROUGH THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

THIS WAS WAY BACK IN 2010 BEFORE TRUMP.

HE DIDN'T GET THROUGH THE PRIMARY SOMEHOW BECAUSE REPUBLICANS WERE LIKE, YEAH, WE WANT A MODERATE BUSINESS PERSON.

HE GOT THROUGH THE PRIMARY BECAUSE MIKE COX AND PETE HOOKSTER PROVIDED THE CONSERVATIVE VOTE.

WHAT'S FASCINATING ABOUT THAT IS LET'S RETURN WHO WAS CHAIR OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DURING THAT TIME.

RON WIESER.

HERE YOU HAVE HIM HERE AGAIN.

I WONDER IF THERE ISN'T LIKE A YEAH, LIKE WE DON'T WANT A CROWDED PRIMARY ANYMORE.

SEEN THAT MOVIE BEFORE.

LET'S MOVE ON.

LIKE CHAD SAID, LET'S FIGURE OUT THE CANDIDATE EARLY I WILL NOTE GRETCHEN WHITMER ANNOUNCED, GIVEN THIS WAS NOT RUNNING AGAINST AN INCUMBENT BUT GRETCHEN WHITMER ANNOUNCED IN 2017, IN JANUARY OF 2017, FOR, YOU KNOW, A RACE IN NOVEMBER, '18.

I THINK REPUBLICANS ESPECIALLY POST-JUNE 1ST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE IS OTHER FOLKS OUT THERE AND NAMES OUT THERE AND DO IT IF THEY ARE GOING TO DO IT.

>> THE LAST TOMB I CHECK THE POLLING ORDER, LAW AND ORDER WAS ON THE LIST, BUT IT WAS BEHIND USED CAR SALESMEN.

IS THAT HIS -- IS THAT HIS WAY TO MOVED IN TO THE GOVERNOR'S CHAIR?

>> CERTAINLY THAT'S GOING TO BE HIS STRENGTH.

BUT THE FIRST QUESTION I WANT TO ASK HUM WHEN HE IS GOING TO TAKE THE POLITICAL QUESTIONS IS: ADDS A POLICE CHIEF AND AS A LAW AND ORDER MAN, DO YOU HOLD PRESIDENT TRUMP RESPONSIBLE FOR JANUARY 6TH AND THE RIOT ON THE U.S. CAPITOL?

HOW DO YOU ANSWER THAT, CHIEF IN.

>> HE WILL GO CHAD, WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?

CHAD, WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION IN RIGHT?

HE IS GOING TO IGNORE IT.

HE WILL TALK AROUND IT.

HE WILL FOG.

>> I AM GOING TO FOLLOW UP.

I AM GOING TO SAY, CHIEF, I HAVE BEEN DANCING AROUND YOU FOR 7 OR EIGHT YEARS.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO ASK A QUESTION?

YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN AFRAID OF ANY QUESTION.

GIVE US THE ANSWER.

>> CHAD?

>> I WILL TAKE JIM'S LEAD ON THIS ONE, YEAH.

I THINK THIS IS HAPPENING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, JUNE IS SORT OF THE TIME ARE YOU HAVE GOT TO BE IN THE RACE BY THEN, THE SUMMER FAUFRT RAISING MONEY.

NOW, YOU CAN GO TO CHICKEN DINNER, BARBECUES ALL SUMMER LONG AND THE MACKINAW CONFERENCE.

THAT'S THE PITCHOAL POINT WHERES REPUBLICANS USUALLY HAVE, IF THEY HAVE AN ORDAINED NOMINEE, THAT'S WHERE THEY ROLL THEM OUT, THE LAST WEEKEND IN SEPTEMBER.

>> THIS HAS A MIKE BLOOMBERG FEERL ME.

WHEN HE NOT DEMOCRATIC RACE.

HE COULD BE THE ONE, THE ONE PEOPLE COMPROMISE ON, A TON OF MONEY, BACKING.

THIS COULD BE IT.

AND THEN IT WASN'T IT.

OF COURSE, THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL FOR DEMOCRATS VERY ATTRACTIVE ALTERNATIVES TO MIKE BLOOMBERG.

IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE CASE HERE.

BUT IT HAS SOME OF THAT SAME FEEL OF SORT OF -- OF SORT OF PRONOUNCING, LOOKING FORWARD TO A BUNCH OF THINGS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN ABOUT THIS CANDIDACY BEFORE IT'S EVEN REALLY ANNOUNCED.

HE IS VERY UNTESTED IN THIS REALM.

WHO KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> HAS ANYBODY ON THE PANEL HEARD THE NAME PERI JOHNSON?

NOT THE FORMER STATE PRISON CORRECTOR.

ANYBODY HEARD THAT NAME?

BUSINESS PERSON.

YES?

NO?

I DID.

HAVE YOU HEARD IT, CHAD IN.

>> YEAH.

>> OKAY.

I AM TOLD BY A PRETTY GOOD SOURCE THIS GUY'S GOT A LOT OF MONEY, HE'S GOT A FAIRLY LARGE EGO WHICH IS NOT NECESSARILY A NEGATIVE AND HE COULD GET IN THIS RACE REGARDLESS OF WHO IS IN IT?

HAVE YOU HEARD THAT CHADAROO?

>> I HAVE HEARD THE SAME THING.

>> THANK YOU.

>> HAND THE NAME RECOGNITION THAT HE HAS, TOO.

>> YEAH.

WHAT A GREAT SHOW, GUYS.

LISTEN, IT WAS GREAT TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU OF THE WELCOME TO THE OTR FAMILY TO NANCY.

AND JIM, YOU SHOULD KNOW IT'S A DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY FROM TIME TO TIME SO BE CAREFUL.

ALL RIGHT?

CHAD, Z, THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.

SEE YOU HERE NEXT WEEK ON "OFF THE RECORD".

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