Ramaswamy ad sparks backlash from Ohio Republican governor

Summarised from 2 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 22 Oct, 20:32 · Archive

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has urged Vivek Ramaswamy to take down a campaign ad featuring his Democratic rival's estranged mother.

A campaign ad by Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio's gubernatorial race has prompted unusual criticism from within his own party. The 60-second video features Donna Arthur, the estranged mother of Democratic candidate Amy Acton, calling her daughter 'a liar' and insinuating mental health issues.

Acton has said she was sexually abused by her stepfather when she was 12 and has not seen her mother since 1978. Arthur lost custody of her children after Acton's stepfather was indicted for rape; he was never tried and later died. Acton's campaign called the ad a 'despicable low'.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican who endorsed Ramaswamy, condemned the ad on Thursday as 'deeply, deeply troubling' and urged Ramaswamy's team to remove it. Other Republicans have also criticised it, including conservative commentator Scott Jennings, who warned it would 'blow up' in the Republican Party's face. However, Vice President JD Vance defended the ad on Wednesday, saying he was 'disgusted' by Republican criticism and accusing fellow Republicans of 'whining' rather than focusing on Democratic policies. Ramaswamy has doubled down on the ad and committed $4 million to broadcast it online and on television.

How it is being reported

• Trump rushes to back Vivek Ramaswamy over controversial ad and blasts Republicans criticizing it“The Press, in a concerted and well coordinated attack, is trying to get Vivek Ramaswamy to ‘take down the Ad,’” Trump wroteIndependent World · 22 Oct, 20:17
• Vance tells Republicans to 'stop whining' after Ramaswamy attack ad in Ohio governor's raceUS Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday defended an explosive attack ad by Republican Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign against his Democratic rival in the Ohio governor’s race, telling fellow Republicans to "stop whining" about it and go win the race. The ad features Democrat Amy Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur, disputing Acton’s account of a childhood she says involved a period of homelessness and sexual abuse. Arthur, whom Acton says she has not seen since 1978, urges Ohioans not to vote for her daughter. Acton has said she was sexually abused by her stepfather when she was 12. Her mother…France 24 · 22 Oct, 20:05
• Vivek Ramaswamy attack ad is so reviled that even CNN’s Scott Jennings blasted it — and Vance’s defense of itJennings warned that the ad, which dredged up Amy Acton’s traumatic childhood, would ‘blow up’ in the Republican Party’s faceIndependent World · 22 Oct, 17:14
• Ramaswamy backlash mounts as Ohio governor urges him to take down 'deeply troubling' adVice President JD Vance defending the ad on Wednesday after it drew outrage from both partiesIndependent World · 22 Oct, 16:30
• JD Vance ‘disgusted’ by GOP backlash to Vivek Ramaswamy's controversial attack adRamaswamy said he will spend $4 million to promote the ad despite backlash from some members of his own partyIndependent World · 21 Oct, 19:38

In this story: Vivek Ramaswamy · Amy Acton · JD Vance · Mike DeWine · Donna Arthur · Ohio

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