From Slate Magazine · Jim Newell · · 2m
Vivek Ramaswamy's Ad Sparks Senate Race Fallout
Ohio GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy's ad featuring Amy Acton's birth mother could backfire on his race and Senate control.
In brief
Ohio GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy's ad featuring Amy Acton's birth mother could backfire on his race and Senate control. Vivek Ramaswamy's ad showing Amy Acton's birth mother calling her a liar may hurt his gubernatorial campaign and Ohio Senate race. Originally reported by Slate Magazine.
Vivek Ramaswamy's Ad
Ohio GOP gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy aired an ad featuring Amy Acton's birth mother calling her a liar.
“the ad features Acton’s birth mother, with whom Acton has been estranged since she was 12, calling her daughter a liar”
Ad Backfire Risk
The ad could backfire on Ramaswamy, who lacks charisma and voters dislike ads attacking candidates over childhood sexual abuse.
“voters of all stripes generally don’t like ads in which someone is attacked over her history of being sexually abused as a child”
Ohio Senate Race
The Ohio Senate race is pivotal for Democratic Senate majorities and costs over $500 million to win.
“it’s pivotal, as most if not all paths to a Democratic Senate majority run through Ohio”
Republican Response
Ohio Republicans, including Gov. Mike DeWine and Secretary of State Frank LaRose, condemned Ramaswamy’s ad as inappropriate.
“grandfatherly Gov. Mike DeWine said it was wrong to run this ad and urged Ramaswamy to take it down”
Jon Husted's Stance
Sen. Jon Husted vowed not to run Ramaswamy’s ad, despite his own Senate race challenges.
“Husted said he would not have run that ad”
Alaska Senate Race
Alaska’s Senate race involves two 'Dans' and a potential DOJ lawsuit over voter confusion.
“the Alaska Supreme Court allowed both Dans to stay on the ballot”
Democrat Unpopularity
Democrats face low voter satisfaction but may still win due to Republican unpopularity.
“just 28 percent of voters said they were satisfied with the Democratic Party”
Wedgewood Polls Scandal
Wedgewood Polls, a fake outfit, was busted for making up numbers that may have skewed races.
“the outfit then tried to cover it up by deeming itself a social experiment examining how purported polling information could enter and spread through the political information ecosystem”
Mississippi Senate Race
Senate Democrats’ super PAC invested in Mississippi to boost Democrat Scott Colom against Cindy Hyde-Smith.
“Senate Democrats’ super PAC announced an investment there to boost Democrat Scott Colom against GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith”
Alaska Timing
Alaska’s Senate results won’t be certified until November 18 due to ranked-choice voting.
“the state won’t tabulate final results until nov. 18”
Trump DOJ Involvement
Trump’s Justice Department sued to block Alaska Senate certification if voter confusion occurs.
“the Trump Justice Department filed a lawsuit this week in Alaska federal court seeking to block the state from certifying any result that may be impacted by voter confusion”
Democratic Party Image
43 percent of Democrats are dissatisfied with their party due to 2024 election performance.
“43 percent of Democrats said they were dissatisfied with their own party”
Senate Race Impact
Ramaswamy’s ad could cost Husted the Senate race and Republican Senate majority.
“if Ramaswamy’s ad, aside from nuking his own campaign, were to bring Husted down another point or two”
What Happens Next
Ramaswamy’s ad may backfire on his race and Ohio Senate control as midterms approach.
“this week’s signature unpleasantness”
The big picture
Vivek Ramaswamy's ad showing Amy Acton's birth mother calling her a liar may hurt his gubernatorial campaign and Ohio Senate race.
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