A controversial campaign ad in Ohio’s race for governor is drawing criticism after Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign used Democratic opponent Amy Acton’s estranged mother to challenge Acton’s account of a traumatic childhood.
The ad became the focus of a heated discussion on Point Taken, where Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey argued that it crossed a line by bringing childhood sexual abuse and a decades-long family estrangement into a political attack.
The advertisement features Acton’s mother, Donna Arthur, calling her daughter a liar and disputing parts of Acton’s description of her childhood.
Ramaswamy’s campaign confirmed Tuesday that it produced the ad and plans to spend $4 million promoting it statewide. The decision has drawn criticism from figures on both sides of the political aisle.
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