Cleveland, OH — Ohio’s largest newspaper has reversed its recently adopted policy against endorsing candidates for major statewide offices, backing Democrat Amy Acton for governor after concluding that Republican Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign had “crossed a line.”
The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com editorial board said Ramaswamy’s decision to air an advertisement featuring Acton’s estranged mother was a major factor in its decision.
Acton has said she was raped by her stepfather as a child and that her mother remained with him after he was charged. The Ramaswamy campaign’s ad features her mother calling Acton a liar and attacking her character.
“A candidate who uses childhood sexual abuse as a weapon against the person who endured it has crossed a line that Ohioans should defend, whatever their party,” the editorial board wrote.
The newspaper had previously decided to stop endorsing candidates for governor, U.S. Senate and president, focusing instead on less-covered down-ballot contests. It said the circumstances compelled it to reconsider.
The endorsement also cited Acton’s government experience and participation in an extensive newspaper questionnaire about Ohio issues, which Ramaswamy declined to complete.
Ramaswamy’s campaign dismissed the endorsement as predictable liberal support.
Democrats and Republicans, including GOP Gov. Mike DeWine, have criticized the original advertisement, with DeWine calling it “a new low” and urging Ramaswamy to remove it. His campaign then began airing a shortened version that removes some of the mother’s most controversial claims but still uses her to attack Acton’s credibility.
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