Vance urges Republicans to focus on election, not controversy over Ramaswamy ad

Vice President JD Vance urged Republican candidates and officials to set aside criticism of a campaign advertisement and concentrate on winning the Ohio gubernatorial election, which is 13 days away. "Politics is a tough business, and 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," Vance said to reporters in Cincinnati.

The ad, produced by Ohio candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, features the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent Amy Acton calling her a "liar" and urging voters not to support her. The ad has drawn criticism from both parties and from conservative commentator Meghan McCain, who described it as "dastardly." Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, said he would not have run the ad.

Vance said the appropriateness of the ad was not his primary concern, emphasizing instead the need to focus on policy issues and the upcoming election. "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," he said.

He added that Republicans should remember past ads run against him and other party members, and urged voters to consider substance over campaign tactics. Ramaswamy's campaign plans a $4 million statewide advertising push around the spot.

Acton's brother, Philip Stearns, condemned the ad, saying it exploited the family's history of sexual abuse. Attempts to contact Acton's mother, Donna Arthur, were unsuccessful.