Ramaswamy follows Trump's playbook in tight Ohio governor's race

Key Points:

• Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is doubling down on a controversial ad featuring the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent Amy Acton, despite bipartisan criticism and calls from within his party to pull the ad.
• The ad highlights family abuse allegations against Acton's stepfather, a sensitive issue that Acton's family condemns as a low blow; Ramaswamy's campaign insists the ad is not about childhood abuse and plans to spend $4 million airing it through Election Day.
• Ramaswamy, a former 2024 presidential candidate and Trump ally, is emulating Trump's combative style, with Trump publicly endorsing the ad and encouraging Ramaswamy to maintain his aggressive campaign tactics.
• The Ohio governor's race remains tight, with polls showing a narrow lead for Acton, and some Republicans expressing concern that Ramaswamy's controversial approach and policy proposals could hurt the GOP's chances.
• Prominent Ohio Republicans, including Governor Mike DeWine and former Governor John Kasich, have condemned the ad and urged its removal, but Ramaswamy and Trump remain defiant, framing the backlash as a necessary fight against political opponents.