Vance ‘disgusted’ by Republicans decrying Ramaswamy ad with Acton’s mother

Vice President Vance criticized the response by some Republicans to a campaign ad for Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy (R), saying he is “disgusted” by those in his party who pushed back on the video.

“I have to admit that I’m a little bit disgusted when I see Republicans across the country who are whining more about that advertisement than they are about what the congressional Democrats and other Democrats want to do to the United States of America,” Vance said at a fraud task force press conference Wednesday.

The ad features the mother of Ramaswamy’s Democratic opponent, Amy Acton, who accuses Acton of being a “liar” and saying “my daughter needs help.”

Acton’s brother released a statement and a competing video hours later saying that he and Acton have been estranged from their mother for years because she stayed married to the man who sexually abused Acton at a young age. Acton was removed from her mother’s care at the age of 12, something unmentioned in the Ramaswamy ad.

Acton is in a competitive race for Ohio governor, but her lead has expanded in recent polls. Decision Desk HQ, a partner of The Hill, gives Acton a 60 percent chance of defeating Ramaswamy.

Vance, a former Ohio senator, again defended Ramaswamy while rallying with him in the Buckeye State Wednesday.

“Vivek Ramaswamy had the audacity to run a TV commercial which calls it out like it is and calls Amy Acton a liar,” Vance said. “Whatever you think about any of the TV advertisements, focus on the substance and focus on the facts.”

The personal nature and controversy surrounding the ad led Democrats and some Republicans to condemn it and call on Ramaswamy, who admitted Tuesday that the ad was from his campaign, to change course.

Axios reported Tuesday that Ramaswamy’s campaign will now spend $4 million on airing the ad statewide.

Vance said at the press conference that he is not concerned about the ad and is only focused on Republicans winning Ohio.

“Whether the ad was appropriate or not is not really my concern,” Vance said. “What is my concern is who is going to govern the next generation of American government, who is going to win the Senate race in the state of Ohio, who is going to win the governor’s race in the state of Ohio?”

“Politics is a tough business,” Vance added. “My message to my fellow elected Republicans is if you actually believe in the things you say you believe in, stop whining about an advertisement and go win the race in 13 days.”