Vance says Republicans should ‘stop whining’ about Vivek Ramaswamy’s attack ad if they want to win

Key Points:

• Vice President JD Vance urged Republicans to stop complaining about Vivek Ramaswamy’s controversial Ohio gubernatorial ad targeting Democrat Amy Acton’s estranged mother, emphasizing the need to focus on winning the election in 13 days.
• Ramaswamy’s ad, which features Acton’s estranged mother calling her a “liar” and references Acton’s history of childhood sexual abuse, sparked bipartisan criticism, including from Ohio Sen. Jon Husted and conservative commentator Meghan McCain.
• Vance dismissed concerns about the ad’s appropriateness, criticizing Republicans who condemned it and urging them to focus on defeating Democrats rather than the ad’s content.
• The controversy has drawn significant media attention, with Ramaswamy’s campaign planning a $4 million statewide advertising push centered on the ad, while Acton’s family condemned the use of her personal trauma in the campaign.
• Attempts to contact Acton’s mother, Donna Arthur, for comment were unsuccessful, and Acton’s brother publicly denounced Ramaswamy’s ad as a low political tactic exploiting past abuse.