DeWine, Kasich call on Ramaswamy to take down ad featuring Acton’s mother
The moment DeWine, a Republican, publicly scolds a fellow Republican over an attack ad, you know the line has been crossed in a way that even party loyalty can't smooth over. Using an estranged mother as a weapon in a political spot is a choice that targets something deeply personal, and it's hard to see how it serves voters trying to decide on policy or record.
I'd want to know what Ramaswamy's team was thinking when they approved this. Was it a calculated move to rattle Acton, or a genuine miscalculation about how it would land? Either way, the reaction from both DeWine and Kasich suggests this could backfire, rallying sympathy for Acton and making the ad itself the story rather than any substantive issue.
There's a broader point here about the creep of personal attacks in campaigns. We've gotten used to tough ads, but there's a difference between hitting someone on their votes and dragging a family member into it, especially one who isn't part of the public life. I lean toward the view that this crosses a line, and I'd be curious whether Ramaswamy doubles down or quietly pulls it. The next few days will tell us a lot about his judgment under pressure.