DeWine calls ad deeply troubling

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday that Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy should remove an ad featuring Democratic opponent Amy Acton's estranged mother. DeWine called it wrong and deeply troubling.

“It's wrong to run this ad. I would urge Ramaswamy's campaign to take this down.”

Vance tells Republicans to stop whining

Vice President JD Vance, campaigning in Ohio on Wednesday, rejected criticism of the ad. He told fellow Republicans that politics is tough and urged them to stop complaining and win the race.

“Politics is a tough business. Stop whining about an advertisement and go win the race in thirteen days.”

The ad features Acton's mother

The ad, which circulated Monday before Ramaswamy confirmed it Tuesday, shows Donna Arthur, Acton's estranged mother, saying Amy is a liar and a serious problem. Arthur's husband was accused of raping Acton as a child.

“It's not easy for a mother to say this, but Amy was a serious problem. She is a liar; she lies about her past.”

Ramaswamy defends the ad

Ramaswamy's campaign spokesperson Connie Luck said Acton was the first to attack her opponent's mother and that Acton's mother is speaking out about lying, not abuse. The campaign refused to pull the ad.

“Acton's mother is speaking out about her clear pattern of lying, not abuse, and it should be covered as such.”

Other Republicans distance themselves

Ohio Sen. Jon Husted said Wednesday he would not have run the ad. Former Rep. Jim Renacci warned Republicans who fail to distance themselves risk damage. President Trump said he knows nothing about it.

Haley calls Ramaswamy a bad guy

Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who faced personal attacks from Ramaswamy in the twenty twenty GOP primary, posted that she is seeing what she tried to tell everyone then. She called him a bad guy.

“He's a bad guy. It's a shame he continues to get away with it.”