CNN’s MAGA Panelists Trash Vivek Ramaswamy Over ‘Disgusting’ Acton Attack Ad

CNN NewsNight’s two MAGA pundits turned on Trump-backed Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy Tuesday night over a campaign ad featuring his Democratic opponent’s estranged mother attacking her account of childhood sexual abuse.

The spot, admittedly produced by Ramaswamy’s campaign and now backed by a $4 million statewide ad buy, features Donna Arthur calling her daughter, Amy Acton, a “liar” and disputing her account of a troubled childhood that included a claim of living in a tent. Ramaswamy’s campaign has stood by the ad despite bipartisan fury.

Acton has said she was sexually abused by her stepfather between the ages of 10 and 12 and that her mother failed to protect her. Her stepfather was indicted on a rape charge after a report filed by Acton’s biological father, but fled Ohio and died in 2004 without being convicted. The gubernatorial candidate has said she hasn’t spoken with her mother in decades.

On CNN host Abby Phillip said she could not “figure out the strategy” and called the ad “extremely risky” on the eve of the midterms before asking conservative commentator Scott Jennings whether it reflected trouble inside Ramaswamy’s campaign.

“It is extremely risky. I agree with you. This kind of thing, you know, I think the way it first got out was they were testing it in some sort of focus group, and it sort of escaped the lab and they might think that it tested well. Of course, what you can’t test in those settings is the rebuttal. And when people actually find out the story,” he said.

He continued: “Nobody really knows or could know what happened back in 1978, here. I do know this. The person who was accused of abusing her fled the state and ran away and never faced a trial, which tells us something as well. So I agree, it is an extremely risky strategy. I talked to a lot of people in Ohio tonight before I came out here. Got a lot of people who were unsure that this was the right thing to do. I also talked to a lot of political people who believe for the last two weeks in Ohio, things have actually been tracking in the right direction for Republicans. They’re actually okay with what they’re seeing in the early voting data, they believe Husted is in an improved position.”

“But to throw out a piece like this at the end of a race is not a confidence inspiring item,” he added.

Fellow conservative panelist Jason Rantz then went further, ripping the ad as “unbelievably disgusting” and said he agreed the ad was an “indictment” on Ramaswamy.

“Look, prior to this, I would have voted for him if I lived in Ohio, after this – knowing the backstory – I wouldn’t,” he replied.

Rantz continued: “Is this a political risk that potentially can play for him? Only if no one finds out the backstory. It is so unbelievably disgusting to put this kind of ad out, and we’re seeing smears like this, and we’ve seen this is not necessarily new, but I’ve never seen it this low. And I don’t think Vivek should want to be known for that. And it’s just a shame.”

“I do think he could lead. But this shows that he can’t,” he added.

Watch above via CNN.

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