Vivek Ramaswamy Stops Airing Attack Ad Targeting Amy Acton
Vivek Ramaswamy stopped airing a controversial attack ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother after the spot drew bipartisan criticism for exploiting Acton's childhood trauma.
Republican nominee for Ohio governor Vivek Ramaswamy confirmed on Thursday that his campaign has stopped airing an attack ad featuring Donna Arthur, the estranged mother of Democratic nominee Amy Acton. The advertisement, which included Arthur calling her daughter a "liar," sparked widespread condemnation from both political parties, including from Republican Governor Mike DeWine.
The controversy centers on the exploitation of Acton's childhood trauma. Acton stated she was raped by her stepfather, Cledith Arthur, between the ages of 10 and 12, an event that led to her estrangement from her mother. While Ramaswamy stated the ad simply "ran to completion" and was replaced by policy-focused spots, Acton's campaign accused him of a "desperate attempt to save his struggling campaign" and criticized him for failing to apologize.
Although the Ramaswamy campaign initially announced a $4 million budget for the advertisement, data indicates that approximately $1 million was actually spent on two versions of the spot. Former President Donald Trump repeatedly defended the ad during a rally with Ramaswamy, despite the bipartisan backlash.
