Two Ohio venues have canceled planned appearances by Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy, while The Plain Dealer endorsed Democratic rival Dr. Amy Acton, adding to criticism of a campaign ad featuring Acton’s estranged mother.
The 30-second video, released last week, features Donna Arthur, Acton’s mother, accusing her daughter of lying and asking Ohio voters to oppose her. The Independent reported that mother and daughter have been estranged for decades. Acton criticized the campaign for using her birth mother in the spot and said she would not normalize that decision.
The Plain Dealer’s editorial board endorsed Acton on Sunday, saying the ad turned her childhood sexual abuse into a campaign tactic. The Independent reported that the endorsement broke the paper’s policy against endorsing candidates in major races. The Plain Dealer is Ohio’s largest newspaper.
Newsweek reported that Old Dog Ale House & Brewery in Delaware canceled a Friday event featuring Ramaswamy. Elliot’s Wood Fired Kitchen in Newark also declined to host a planned Tuesday appearance. The Ohio Republican Party indicated it planned to reschedule both events.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and other Republicans called for the ad to be removed, while President Donald Trump praised it as “very powerful” in a Truth Social post and criticized Republicans who opposed it, The Independent reported. Ramaswamy defended the ad as “legitimate” and said he wanted the race to focus on issues affecting Ohioans; he accused Acton of avoiding those issues, the outlet reported. The Independent also described the race as close.
EconoTimes previously covered Trump’s defense of the ad and DeWine’s call for its removal. Ohio voters will choose a governor Tuesday, Nov. 3.
