Hannity Blames Democrats for Ramaswamy Ad Backlash

The tight Ohio gubernatorial contest between Vivek Ramaswamy and Amy Acton has generated intense scrutiny over a new Republican attack commercial. Sean Hannity framed the current media reaction as a calculated partisan response rather than a organic voter concern.

Hannity spoke with Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio on Tuesday to discuss the political fallout. The host argued that the focus on the ad was a strategic move by the Democratic Party in the state. He told Moreno that the criticism of Ramaswamy’s campaign materials looked like a dirty trick by Democrats in Ohio. Hannity asked his guest if that assessment was accurate.

Moreno did not push back on the host's characterization. The senator responded by stating that politics is a dirty game. Moreno then used the segment to criticize Acton’s handling of the pandemic while she served as the state health department director. He urged viewers to vote for Ramaswamy in the upcoming election.

The commercial features Acton’s estranged mother describing her daughter as a liar. The mother urges Ohio voters not to elect Acton. The two women have not seen each other since a 1978 courtroom appearance. Acton lost custody of her mother when she was 12 years old. She remained with her stepfather after accusing him of repeated sexual abuse. The mother eventually left the state with her indicted husband.

Hannity claimed the ad did not reference the past sexual abuse directly. He explained that Ramaswamy’s team was addressing Acton’s claim that she grew up in a tent. The mother stated in the spot that they did not live in a tent and that Acton had a problem with telling the truth. Hannity said people jumped to conclusions about the content of the message.

Court records cited by NPR indicate the family did live in a tent. The mother also mentions her past work with a sexual abuse program in the commercial. That reference stands in contrast to the history between the mother and daughter. The ad has dominated recent talk in the race, drawing attention to the credibility of the witness.

The segment highlighted the dynamic between the Fox News host and a senior Republican ally. Moreno’s acceptance of the dirty trick narrative provided a clear signal of how the campaign is framing the controversy. The exchange set the tone for further debate over the commercial’s impact on the governor's race.