Ramaswamy backlash mounts as Ohio governor urges him to take down 'deeply troubling' ad

The Guardian · The Independent and The Guardian report that Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, has asked Vivek Ramaswamy's gubernatorial campaign to pull a television and online spot featuring the estranged mother of Democratic opponent Amy Acton. DeWine told reporters Thursday that running it was wrong and called it "deeply, deeply troubling." The Guardian adds that he will not withdraw his endorsement of Ramaswamy. Acton once served as health director under DeWine.

In the 60-second spot, Donna Arthur calls her daughter a liar and suggests she has mental health problems. The Independent and The Guardian both note that Acton and her brother were taken from their mother at age 12, after their stepfather was arrested on a charge of raping Acton. The Independent reports that Acton has not seen Arthur since 1978, and that Ramaswamy has acknowledged his team made the ad and plans to spend $4 million airing it.

Vice President JD Vance defended Ramaswamy at rallies in Ohio on Wednesday. The Guardian says he declined to rule on whether the ad was appropriate and urged Republicans to stop complaining and win the race in 13 days. The Independent says he called Ramaswamy a close friend.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Guardian · The Independent and The Guardian’s reporting. Read the full story at The Guardian · The Independent → Also at The Guardian →