Stop whining: JD Vance as Vivek Ramaswamy faces flak for attack ad in Ohio race

JD Vance has backed Vivek Ramaswamy's controversial ad against Democrat Amy Acton, despite bipartisan outrage over its use of her estranged mother to dispute her account of sexual abuse during her childhood.

In Short

• Democrat Amy Acton says she endured sexual abuse in childhood
• Ramaswamy's ad features Acton's mother accusing her of lying about abuse
• JD Vance criticises Republicans upset over the ad, defends its message

US Vice President JD Vance has defended a controversial campaign advertisement by Republican Vivek Ramaswamy attacking his Democratic rival, Amy Acton, in Ohio’s gubernatorial race, brushing aside criticism over the use of her estranged mother’s allegations ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

The ad features Donna Arthur, Acton’s mother, accusing her daughter of being a liar and urging Ohioans not to vote for her. It disputes Acton’s account of childhood abuse and homelessness.

Acton has said she was sexually abused by her stepfather when she was 12. Her mother remained with the man, who fled the state after being charged with rape and was never tried. He died in 2004. Acton has said she has not seen her mother since 1978.

Vance, a former Ohio senator and close friend of Ramaswamy, defended the campaign ad, hitting out at Democrats and fellow Republicans alike for their reaction.

"Now the media and the Democrats in the state of Ohio are obsessed because guess what? Vivek Ramaswamy had the audacity to run a TV commercial which calls it out like it is, and calls Amy Acton a liar," he said at a rally.

Speaking to the BBC, Vance was asked whether he considered the ad appropriate. "It's not really my concern," he replied.

He also said he was "a little bit disgusted" by Republicans who "are whining more about that advertisement than they are about what the congressional Democrats and other Democrats want to do to the United States of America".

President Donald Trump, asked about the advertisement on Wednesday, said, "I know nothing about it. I heard the mother went very rogue on the daughter."

He added, "It's a very unusual situation to have a mother hate a daughter that much. But I don't think that has anything to do with Vivek."

AMY ACTON HITS BACK WITH OWN AD

The ad has received blowback from Acton’s family. Her brother, Philip Stearns, described the video as a "desperate, disgusting attack", accusing Ramaswamy of turning sexual abuse into a political weapon.

"Shame on Vivek," Stearns said in a 30-second campaign video released by Acton’s team on Tuesday. "It's the contempt he has for Amy. It's the contempt he has for Ohio."

He has also condemned the use of sexual assault as "a political talking point", calling it a "despicable low".

Despite the backlash, Ramaswamy has pledged to spend $4 million (£2.9 million) to air the advertisement further. Campaign spokesperson Connie Luck defended the move in a statement, saying: "We don't know what happened between Amy and her mother ... but we know that Amy Acton is a serial fabulist."

Opinion polls show Acton holding a narrow lead over Ramaswamy. Analysts say the advertisement’s backlash could reinforce her standing and potentially hurt Republican candidates in Ohio ahead of the midterm elections.

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