Published 16 hours ago • loading... • Updated 6 hours ago
Ohio Poll Says Ramaswamy Attack Ad Helped Acton
A new Suffolk University-USA TODAY poll found 72% had seen the ad, and 7 voters switched to Acton while 1 moved to Ramaswamy.
Internal Republican polling obtained by Axios shows Democratic candidate Amy Acton widening her lead over Republican Vivek Ramaswamy to 8 percentage points, up from a 2-point lead earlier this month.
Ramaswamy pushed to run the $4 million ad despite internal resistance, featuring Donna Arthur, Acton's estranged mother, accusing her daughter of lying about her past.
Data from the Suffolk University-USA TODAY Ohio survey shows 86 percent of respondents knew of the ad, with those familiar with it favoring Acton by a 2-to-1 margin.
Republican Governor Mike DeWine urged Ramaswamy to pull the ad, while President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance defended it. Republicans fear backlash could jeopardize Senator Jon Husted's reelection bid.
David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, described the gamble as a "Hail Mary strategy." Operatives warn the ad has put the entire Republican ticket on defense.