- Donald Trump rebuked DeWine on Truth Social, calling him “disloyal to the Republican party” and urging Ramaswamy to keep the ad up.
- DeWine called Ramaswamy's ad targeting Amy Acton 'deeply troubling' and urged him to drop it.
- Ramaswamy's campaign spokesperson Connie Luck defended the ad, citing double standards and noting that Democrats have used family members of President Trump and RFK Jr. in ads.
- Vice President JD Vance dismissed criticism, saying “Politics is a tough business” and that he was disgusted by Republicans whining more about the ad than about Democratic policies.
- Several other Republicans, including Jon Husted, Frank LaRose, and Sherrod Brown, condemned the ad, while DeWine declined to drop his endorsement of Ramaswamy.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine criticized Vivek Ramaswamy's ad targeting Amy Acton, calling it 'deeply troubling' and urging its removal. Trump swiftly defended Ramaswamy, labeling DeWine as 'disloyal to the Republican party' on Truth Social.123
DeWine stated, "It’s wrong to run this ad," emphasizing that family members should be off-limits in political campaigns. Ramaswamy's campaign plans to spend $4 million to air the ad statewide, which features Acton's estranged mother criticizing her.
Despite the backlash, DeWine maintained his endorsement of Ramaswamy, aiming to support the full Republican ticket in the upcoming midterms.
Vice President JD Vance dismissed the criticism, stating, "Politics is a tough business," while Republican Senator Jon Husted expressed his disapproval of the ad but did not withdraw support for Ramaswamy.5678
DeWine's comments reflect a broader concern among Republicans about the appropriateness of personal attacks in political advertising, especially as the midterm elections approach.
Acton, leading Ramaswamy in polls, has a complicated family history that the ad exploits, raising ethical questions about the use of personal narratives in political campaigns.
“DeWine said 'family members have always historically been off limits' and noted Acton had earlier raised Ramaswamy's mother's alleged 'pump and dump' scheme. JD Vance dismissed the criticism, saying 'Politics is a tough business' and that he was 'disgusted' by Republicans whining about the ad.”
The Guardian
