With Ohio’s gubernatorial election six days away, retired teacher Michael Pogue has called on Republican Vivek Ramaswamy to retract an ad targeting Democrat Amy Acton, The Independent reported.
Pogue came to a Cincinnati campaign stop on Saturday, Oct. 24, displaying a banner that read, “Shame on you, Vivek! I taught you better,” The Independent reported. The Cincinnati Enquirer identified Pogue as one of Ramaswamy’s teachers at Princeton Junior High during Ramaswamy’s eighth-grade year. Pogue told the Enquirer he wanted Ramaswamy to issue a “full retraction and sincere apology” to Acton.
The Independent reported that Cledith Arthur was indicted on a rape charge involving Acton during her childhood; the charge did not lead to a prosecution against him. Donna Arthur had lost custody of her children after the indictment, and the couple later left the state. In the campaign’s 30-second spot, Donna Arthur, Acton’s estranged mother, calls her daughter a “liar,” the outlet reported.
Ramaswamy said the ad was from his campaign and defended it as “legitimate,” The Independent reported. He told reporters last week he wanted the campaign to focus on issues affecting Ohioans and said Acton had avoided those subjects.
The Independent reported that Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine urged the campaign to remove the video. President Donald Trump defended the ad as “fair game” in remarks at the White House Friday, Oct. 23, according to EconoTimes’ earlier coverage of Trump’s response.
The Independent reported that Ramaswamy lost prominent endorsements and that venues canceled campaign events. The outlet also reported that The Plain Dealer endorsed Acton over the weekend, departing from its practice of withholding endorsements in major races. The newspaper’s editorial board argued that the ad exploited Acton’s childhood sexual abuse, according to The Independent.
Ohio is scheduled to elect a governor on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
