A new television advertisement in Ohio has shocked even hardened US political observers. Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy released a 30-second spot featuring Donna Arthur, the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent Amy Acton. In the ad, Arthur says: "Amy has a serious problem. She is a liar. She lies about her past. She says she grew up living in a tent. None of that is true. She has lied her entire life. My daughter needs help, and she can't help you if she needs help herself."
Acton has previously spoken publicly about being sexually abused by her stepfather. Her campaign released records showing he was charged and indicted. Acton says her stepfather and her mother fled the state, and he never faced trial. On Tuesday, Acton's brother Philip Stearns released a statement affirming these events. "Our birth mother stayed married to Amy's rapist until he died," he said. "This desperate, disgusting attack reveals exactly who Vivek Ramaswamy is at his core – a pathetic excuse for a man who is willing to hurt anyone as long as it gets him what he wants."
Ramaswamy confirmed late Tuesday that his campaign produced the ad and defended its contents. He said he would prefer the election to focus on substantive issues but argued that Acton was refusing to debate him and had attacked him in her own ads.
The advertisement was not widely condemned by Republicans. It was boosted by President Donald Trump's son Don Jr, former Fox News host Megyn Kelly, and far-right influencer Laura Loomer. The ad is seen as part of a broader trend of deeply personal attacks in US politics, a tactic that has intensified since the rise of Donald Trump.
The article, written by Michael Koziol, draws a direct warning for Australia. It notes that One Nation leader Pauline Hanson belatedly apologised for and took down a cartoon video mocking Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie over a medical condition, initially telling Lambie to "get over it". Coalition frontbencher Andrew Hastie described the tactic as "the MAGA-style politics we can expect from One Nation if they are elected to government." The article also references an alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines, which police believe was intentional.
The intensity of US election campaigns does not end on election day, the article argues. Over successive cycles, Americans have become deeply divided and convinced that the other side is evil or dangerous, leading to a dehumanisation of opponents. A small protest at a Trump rally in Kansas saw heated exchanges and one physical altercation.