Vivek Ramaswamy discontinues attack ad that prompted wave of revulsion

Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican candidate for Ohio governor, announced on Thursday that his campaign would no longer air an attack ad targeting his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton. The controversial ad featured Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, who had lost custody of her daughter in 1978 when her second husband, Cledith Arthur, was charged with sexually abusing her between the ages of 10 and 12.

The ad sparked widespread outrage due to the sensitive nature of the allegations, particularly as Cledith Arthur had lived in a tent during his arrest for rape.

Ramaswamy addressed the issue in Vandalia, Ohio, stating that while the ad had completed its run, his campaign would focus on policies in the final stages of the campaign. He criticized Acton for avoiding a debate and for not addressing the allegations directly. The ad had cost Ramaswamy's campaign $4 million, despite criticism from both Democrats and Republicans who pointed out the traumatic nature of the allegations.

Acton's mother, Donna Arthur, had defended the allegations in a 2020 interview with Operation Rescue, stating that she was aware of her son-in-law's past rape accusations against her daughter. Trump repeatedly defended the ad, appearing with Ramaswamy at a rally, but refused to acknowledge the relevance of the serious child rape allegation to Acton's credibility.