Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign in Ohio has released an attack ad featuring the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton, disputing Acton’s account of her childhood and alleging sexual abuse by her stepfather. The ad, which includes statements from Acton’s mother, Donna Arthur, claiming her daughter is a liar regarding her upbringing, has sparked debate among political strategists about the effectiveness and ethics of personal attacks in the final stretch of the midterm election.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican strategist Whit Ayres acknowledged that while negative ads are generally effective if credible, this specific ad risks blowing up the campaign due to its nature. It's also possible to do negative ads that blow up your own campaign, those that are simply not believable... or just make your skin crawl, Ayres said, suggesting the Ramaswamy ad meets criteria that could alienate voters. Regarding President Trump’s campaign efforts in traditionally Republican states like South Carolina, North Carolina, and Kansas, Ayres noted that the president’s effectiveness depends on the specific state and district, but emphasized his ability to mobilize low-propensity voters.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic strategist Faiz Shakir characterized the ad as a defensive move by a candidate he described as losing. Shakir argued that the personal nature of the attack indicates a lack of substantive policy proposals on key issues such as housing, health care, and electricity rates. Instead of talking about issues, having a debate, you demonize a person, Shakir said. He noted that similar personal attacks have been deployed against other Democratic candidates, including Talarico, Abdul El-Sayed, and Troy Jackson, suggesting a broader strategy to distract voters from economic concerns.
What the Numbers Show
A new New York Times/Siena poll places President Trump’s approval rating at 36 percent, a record low in that survey. Historical data cited by Ayres indicates that the president’s party typically loses seats in midterm elections when approval ratings fall below 50 percent. Specifically, when a president’s approval is below 50 percent, the average loss of House seats is 32, compared to an average loss of 14 seats when approval is above 50 percent. Additionally, polls show that only 4 percent of Americans express more sympathy toward Russia than Ukraine, a statistic Ayres linked to declining Republican approval amid President Trump’s stance on the conflict.
The Bottom Line
The combination of personal attack ads and declining presidential approval ratings suggests a challenging environment for Republican candidates in competitive races. While the Ramaswamy campaign aims to redefine Amy Acton’s narrative, strategists on both sides agree that voter sentiment is heavily influenced by economic issues and the president’s current approval standing. The final weeks of the campaign will likely test whether these personal attacks can sway independent voters or if they will serve to energize the Democratic base in states like Ohio, Kansas, and Florida.