Ramaswamy confirms ad featuring Acton’s mother, says campaign should focus on the issues

Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy confirmed that the clip circulating of Amy Acton’s mother accusing the Democratic nominee of lying is from his campaign.

Defending the clip’s release following Tuesday’s Faith & Freedom Town Hall in Westerville, Ramaswamy said that voters should have access to such information, given Acton’s refusal to debate.

“It is an ad from our campaign,” Ramaswamy told reporters.

He quickly added that he would prefer the race to focus on substantive issues affecting Ohioans, including how the state manages its roughly $100 billion budget. He argued that Acton has avoided those issues by declining to debate him and by limiting cameras at her events.

“And, the thing that I want to say is that I would love for this race and this election to be about the substantive issues that impact Ohioans, and unfortunately, Amy Acton has been hiding from those issues,” Ramaswamy told reporters. “She won’t debate me. She doesn’t allow cameras at her events.”

Ramaswamy, who was asked if he stood behind the claims made by Acton’s mother, said the claims are nothing new.

“Well, to be clear, this is not new. Her mother has spoken out for years, and I don’t know Amy Acton’s mother, and I’ve never met Amy Acton either,” Ramaswamy said, adding, “What I do know is that Amy Acton has been repeatedly and serially dishonest during this campaign, and for much of her record in public service, and I do think that that record deserves to be scrutinized. And if she feels that there’s anything that’s unfair or inaccurate about the criticisms leveled against her, she should be willing to defend herself on a debate stage.

“…We believe that the best way to do this would be to have an open debate between the two candidates,” Ramaswamy said. “But in absence of that, I do think voters deserve answers about both candidates’ background, and I think it is part of a pattern that Amy Acton should answer for of why the people who are closest to her — her former boss, her former colleagues in state government, the doctors, the Ohio State Medical Association, and now others — are coming forward telling voters not to vote for her. I do think that that’s something that voters can and should reasonably take into account.”

Ramaswamy also accused Acton of spreading what he called defamatory and disparaging statements about him and his family during the campaign. He said those claims deserve examination and that he is prepared to defend his record and positions on a debate stage. If Acton believes criticisms of her are unfair or inaccurate, he added, she should be willing to do the same.

“The fact that she’s not, I think, tells voters everything that they do need to know,” he said.

He contrasted that with what he described as Acton’s consistent use of defamatory ads and statements against him and his family.

“That’s why I think it would be productive to have a debate because I’m prepared to defend myself against those false accusations. And the fact that she would lob a lot of falsehoods in this race while resorting to hiding, I think, says a lot about her inability to lead. And I think it also says a lot to the voters about who’s actually telling the truth.”

Asked whether Acton’s mother was coached or compensated by the campaign for the ad contents, Ramaswamy said Acton’s mother was not compensated for the advertisement.

Throughout the interview, Ramaswamy returned to the theme of focusing on issues that affect Ohioans and his readiness to debate. He said the state needs a leader who can manage its large budget and that voters should be able to assess both candidates’ records, especially given the lack of direct engagement.

“I look forward to hopefully having a race that is focused on the issues impacting Ohioans,” Ramaswamy said. “This is what the state deserves.”

The exchange comes in the final weeks of a neck-and-neck campaign between Ramaswamy and Acton in which Ramaswamy has repeatedly called for joint appearances, while Acton has faced questions about access for media and cameras.