Ohio Update: Acton Surging Over Ramaswamy

Ramaswamy's Very Bad Week

The pattern for Vivek Ramaswamy has always been the same: the more people hear from him, the less they like him.

That was the story in the presidential primary, where he never gained after the first debate.

That was the story in Iowa, where he finished a distant fourth (then dropped out the same night) despite spending millions.

And it’s happening here in Ohio as well.

And when his anemic standing is pitted against Dr. Amy Acton—the former Ohio health director who entered the race for Governor with the highest job approval of any figure in the state of Ohio—Ramaswamy now finds himself behind.

A poll a few weeks ago by the Ohio Federation of Teachers had Dr. Acton up by 1, and leading significantly with independents.

And late last week, a poll from Emerson College came out also showing her with a one point lead.

This marked a huge bounce from an earlier Emerson poll that had her trailing by 10:

Here’s a video of analysts discussing the shift—which they attributed to Acton’s relentless focus on affordability, Ramaswamy’s unending unforced errors, and an especially strong movement among women voters:

Those of us on the ground in Ohio have been seeing this all year, but the nation is beginning to wake up that something is happening in Ohio:

An Unexpected Assist from Ohio’s Governor

As if the new polling (from a conservative outlet) wasn’t bad enough news for Ramaswamy, another shoe dropped late in the week.

All year, Ramaswamy and the GOP have attacked Dr. Acton for her work saving lives during COVID.

And all year long I’ve explained that this is actually a weak attack, for a number of reasons: 1) people respected her leadership during COVID, which is why she’s always been well above water in the polls; 2) the attack is years old; 3) it’s a complicated issue (with seniors especially fond of her work to save lives, and with RFK ‘s antics placing a premium on science-based candidates when it comes to our health); and 4) Dr. Acton was standing alongside (Republican) Governor DeWine throughout the crisis, so attacking her for what they did together seems like a stretch.

Multiple polls, as well as past election results (Kentucky’s Beshear won by more despite non-stop attacks on his leadership throughout COVID), have confirmed my instinct on this all year.

But late last week, another person confirmed it as well.

Asked by reporters about what he thinks of Ramaswamy’s attacks on COVID, DeWine said as follows:

I’m not surprised he said this. Perhaps the highlight of Mike DeWine’s career—and definitely the peak of his popularity over 50 years in office—was his leadership during COVID. It’s what fueled him to a 26-point reelection victory. And he no doubt is proud of his work during that crisis. So it’s been quite a sight to see his own party, and a guy seeking his support and endorsement, spend almost every day attacking HIS leadership.

But DeWine’s taking ownership of the COVID response also ropes in one other figure to the conversation. Because standing next to and with DeWine and Acton throughout the crisis was Lt. Governor Jon Husted. While he didn’t get as much attention, he was the third part of the team:

And in all the press conferences and announcements that took place, with millions watching, I never once saw Husted open an inch of daylight between what DeWine and he were doing or saying.

Husted, of course, is now running for U.S. Senate.

So when Ramaswamy and the GOP attack on the COVID response, they are literally attacking their own running mate and Senate candidate as they do so.

That would seem to be a problem.

Mamaw’s Porch

Finally, one of my favorite Ohio activists—Mamaw from Jackson County—sat down with Dr. Acton last week to talk about her campaign, and the issues impacting rural Ohio in particular:

You can watch the interview HERE.