Political Commentator Slams New Vivek Ramaswamy Ad
I couldn't find that exact quote or the commentator behind it, so I can't say for sure which ad it's about. The most prominent recent ad controversy involving Ramaswamy, the Republican nominee for Ohio governor, fits the timing, though.
What happened: The ad is a property-tax spot featuring Patricia "Patty" Edwards of Amherst, who worries about losing the family farm. Her husband, Vernon Edwards, appears in b-roll and is a registered sex offender, according to The Bulwark. Newsweek independently confirmed his criminal history through an Ohio appeals court decision, and the Lorain County Sheriff's Office registry lists him as subject to lifetime registration. Ohio law defines the offense he pleaded guilty to in 2006, gross sexual imposition, as involving sexual contact with a minor.
The campaign's response: Spokesperson Evan Machan said the campaign had no prior knowledge of his record and was changing the ad to remove him. The campaign described the spot as based on a real interaction between Ramaswamy and an Ohio woman distraught at a county fair over rising property taxes. It also removed a social media video of the earlier encounter. Patty Edwards called the accusations against her husband "false" and described him as an "exemplary citizen at this point."
The criticism: The Acton campaign said the recut ad still includes his wife and accused Ramaswamy of trying to deceive voters. The Bulwark's report noted that court documents and a Google search could have turned up his record. That gets at whether the campaign vetted the people it featured. The "ashamed" quote may come from a commentator reacting to this.
If you share where you saw the headline, or the commentator's name, I can check whether it's this ad or a different one. Ramaswamy's campaign has also run other attack ads this cycle, including ones on Amy Acton's COVID-era record.
Post a Comment