Ramaswamy Faces Backlash from Former Teacher Over Acton Ad

Key points

• Ramaswamy's campaign has quietly replaced the original 60-second ad with a 30-second version, dropping footage of Donna Arthur disputing Acton's account of childhood homelessness, though Ramaswamy publicly refuses to back down.
• Michael Pogue, a former eighth-grade teacher of Ramaswamy, protested at a campaign event with signs demanding a retraction and apology, stating he was 'disappointed' by Ramaswamy's actions and citing his own students who were raped.
• Acton told reporters she is learning new things about her childhood in the wake of the ad, which she described as exploitive of her estranged mother.
• Every living former Ohio governor has disavowed the ad, with Mike DeWine calling it 'wrong' and urging Ramaswamy to withdraw it, while Republican Senator Jon Husted said he 'would not have run that ad.'
• Ramaswamy defended the ad on Fox News, claiming it was about Acton's 'consistent track record of telling lies' and not related to childhood abuse, while invoking Donald Trump's combative political playbook.

Background

The controversy began on October 20 when a viral ad featuring Donna Arthur calling Acton a liar circulated on social media. By October 21, the ad had intensified the race, with Acton's brother condemning it as a despicable exploitation of childhood abuse. By October 24, the ad had split the GOP, with polls shifting in Acton's favor and national scrutiny intensifying ahead of the November 3 election.

How outlets are covering it

NBC News focuses on Acton's personal response, noting she is learning new things about her childhood and believes the ad was exploitive of her mother. Yahoo emphasizes the intra-party backlash, highlighting the protest by Ramaswamy's former teacher, Michael Pogue, and the quiet editing of the ad by the campaign. Both outlets agree that Ramaswamy has not backed down publicly, but Yahoo notes the discrepancy between his public defense and the campaign's private edits. Yahoo also highlights the division within the GOP, with Trump and Vance defending the ad while DeWine and Husted condemn it. NBC does not mention the specific edits or the former teacher's protest, focusing instead on Acton's statement.

Why it matters

The ad has split the Republican Party in Ohio, with senior GOP figures condemning it while the national party leadership defends it. The controversy has shifted polls in Acton's favor and raised concerns about the impact on other Ohio races. The quiet editing of the ad suggests the campaign is trying to mitigate backlash while maintaining a public stance of defiance.

What to watch

Ramaswamy is expected to continue defending the ad publicly, while the campaign may further adjust its advertising strategy to mitigate backlash. Acton is expected to continue highlighting the ad's exploitative nature and her own history of childhood abuse. The Ohio race is expected to remain contentious, with the ad likely to be a central issue in the final weeks before the November 3 election.