Ramaswamy ends Ohio governor attack ad targeting rival's mother

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 30 Oct, 01:39 · Archive

Republican Vivek Ramaswamy has stopped airing an attack advertisement featuring the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent Amy Acton.

Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican nominee for Ohio governor, confirmed on Thursday that his campaign is no longer airing an attack advertisement that featured Amy Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur. When asked by a reporter in Vandalia, Ohio whether his campaign had stopped running the ad, Ramaswamy said: 'It ran to completion and we put up four other ads.'

The advertisement prompted criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. Court records showed that Arthur had lost custody of Acton in 1978, when her second husband, Cledith Arthur, was charged with raping her daughter between the ages of 10 and 12. During an interview with anti-abortion group Operation Rescue in 2020, Acton's mother called her daughter 'a liar' and said she knew her husband had previously been accused of raping his own daughter before they married.

Ramaswamy's campaign had announced it would spend $4 million to broadcast the ad. The Guardian reports that the original 60-second version was edited to a 30-second format, with Ramaswamy's campaign removing one of the mother's allegations about her daughter.

Ramaswamy said he would prefer the campaign's final stretch to focus on policy rather than 'discussion around 30-second ads', and criticised Acton for not debating him.

How it is being reported

• Vivek Ramaswamy discontinues attack ad that prompted wave of revulsionCandidate for Ohio governor confirms campaign no longer airing ad that smeared rival and was defended by Trump Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican nominee for Ohio governor, confirmed on Thursday that his campaign is no longer airing an attack ad that features the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton. The ad prompted a wave of revulsion since Acton’s mother, Donna Arthur, lost custody of her daughter in 1978, when her second husband, Cledith Arthur, was charged with raping her daughter between the ages of 10 and 12. Continue reading...Guardian World · 30 Oct, 01:10
• Watch: Ohio voters react to Ramaswamy's attack adPresident Trump is campaigning for Republicans in Ohio, while former President Barack Obama has hit the road in Georgia. CBS News' Nikole Killion and Skyler Henry are out on the field and have more.CBS News · 28 Oct, 23:44
• How Ramaswamy's attack ad against Acton is swaying Ohio voters' preferencesPresident Trump is on a campaign blitz six days ahead of the midterm elections that will determine control of Congress. Republican strategist Rina Shah and Democratic strategist Robyn Patterson join CBS News to discuss the controversial Ohio race attack ad.CBS News · 28 Oct, 21:13

In this story: Vivek Ramaswamy · Amy Acton · Donna Arthur · Ohio

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