Ohio Republican Vivek Ramaswamy has pulled the controversial ad that dominated news headlines on the state’s gubernatorial race since last week.
The attack ad featured Democratic candidate Amy Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur, who called her daughter a “liar” to make the case that she is unfit to serve as governor of Ohio. Ramaswamy quickly faced bipartisan rebuke for weaponizing the mother, who has a questionable record of her own, against his opponent.
In a statement to the Washington Examiner, Ramaswamy’s campaign confirmed the one-minute spot was taken off the air like any other ad that served its purpose. The campaign noted it has six other ads in rotation as Election Day approaches.
Earlier Thursday, Ramaswamy said the divisive ad “ran to completion” while campaigning in Vandalia, Ohio. His campaign spent about $1 million to air two versions of the same ad, lower than the $4 million amount that was previously reported.
The ad was taken down five days before the election, as Ramaswamy appears to be facing an uphill battle against Acton.
A Republican group’s internal poll, as reported by Axios, shows Acton with an 8-point lead. Before the ad started airing on Oct. 19, Acton led Ramaswamy by 2 points. In a memo, the group said the ad “is having a significant effect on the gubernatorial race.”
Moreover, the RealClearPolitics polling average has Acton ahead by 4.3 points in the lead-up to the general election. It remains to be seen how Ramaswamy will perform in the election results next week.
The Republican nominee defended the political ad until it was pulled by the campaign, while Acton used the controversy to her advantage. On Thursday, her campaign released an ad that took aim at Ramaswamy’s stunt.
OBAMA RIPS RAMASWAMY AFTER ACTON AD: ‘NO OFFICE IS WORTH STOPPING THAT LOW’
“To become governor, he’ll smear his opponent for being raped by her stepfather when she was just 10 years old. Exploiting the sexual abuse of a child and spending millions to lie to you about it,” the narrator said in the 30-second video. “If that’s what Ramaswamy will do to get what he wants, what do you think he’ll do to you as governor?”
When the controversy began, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance were among the top Republicans to rush to Ramaswamy’s defense. However, the billionaire-turned-candidate was sharply criticized by the man he’s seeking to succeed, Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH). The term-limited official said the campaign ad was “deeply troubling” and “wrong,” but he noted that Ramaswamy still has his support in the race for governor.