Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Alex Woodward

Vivek Ramaswamy faces backlash for featuring opponent’s estranged mom in ad

  • A political attack ad supporting Donald Trump -backed candidate Vivek Ramaswamy features the estranged mother of Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton, who accuses Acton of lying about her past.
  • Acton, who has been estranged from her mother since 1978 following the sexual abuse charges against her stepfather, condemned the ad alongside her campaign as a despicable low.
  • In the ad, Acton's mother calls her daughter a liar and denies her claims of growing up in a tent and enduring childhood trauma. “She lies about her past,” Acton’s mother says. “She says she grew up living in a tent. None of that is true. She’s lied her entire life. My daughter needs help, and she can’t help you if she needs help herself.”
  • Ramaswamy's campaign defended the ad's message, asserting that Ohio voters deserve to hear warnings from people who know Acton best, drawing fierce condemnation from Democrats. Connie Luck, a spokesperson for Ramaswamy’s campaign, told The Independent that “everyone who knows her best,” including her mother, “are clearly warning Ohioans not to vote for her.”
  • Despite the political clash, a recent Marist Poll shows Acton leading Ramaswamy 50 percent to 43 percent among likely voters in the Ohio governor's race.

IN FULL

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.