Ramaswamy Ad Featuring Amy Acton's Estranged Mother Leaves Ohio Airwaves After Bipartisan Criticism

Republican Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign confirmed Thursday that its attack ad featuring Donna Arthur, the estranged mother of Democratic Ohio governor candidate Amy Acton, has left Ohio's airwaves. The campaign said the ad rotated out after completing its intended run and that other ads continue in the race's final days. AP reported the campaign spent about a quarter of what it initially said it would invest; the campaign had said last week the ad would have $4 million in airtime. The spot began as a minute long and was cut to 30 seconds. In it, Arthur calls her daughter a liar and urges Ohioans not to vote for her. It does not address the rape case in which Acton's then-stepfather was charged nearly 50 years ago. Acton says she has not seen her mother since she was 12. The ad drew bipartisan condemnation, and Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican who endorsed Ramaswamy, urged him to take it down. Acton called the ad despicable on Tuesday in Youngstown.

Left-leaning outlets agree on the basic facts but differ in focus. NBC News leads with the campaign's confirmation that the ad is ending, then gives the $4 million figure, the shortened version, DeWine's call to pull it and Acton's Youngstown remarks. The New Republic, whose headline calls the ad "vile," centers on Arthur's condition. It cites Zeteo sources describing her as unwell while filming and NBC-obtained court filings on 2022 animal neglect charges involving 20 cats. It also says Ramaswamy ignored his own team's advice. Alternative outlets AP and The Times of India report the ad's removal and bipartisan criticism; AP adds the spending shortfall. Right-leaning outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing, while left-leaning and alternative outlets had.