Cleveland, Ohio - Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has taken yet another hit in his attack ad scandal, as the state's biggest newspaper has now come out against him.
On Sunday, the editorial board for The Plain Dealer announced that it was rescinding its policy of not issuing endorsements in certain political races and had decided to support Democrat Amy Acton in her run against Ramaswamy.
"A candidate who uses childhood sexual abuse as a weapon against the person who endured it has crossed a line that Ohioans should defend, whatever their party," the outlet argued.
"We are better than this. We have a responsibility to show it."
The move comes as Ramaswamy continues to face heavy backlash for pushing a campaign ad that features Acton's estranged mother calling her daughter a "liar" and urging Ohioans not to vote for her.
It was later revealed that Acton hasn't spoken to her mother since she was removed from her mother's custody at the age of 12 after her stepfather was indicted for raping her.
Acton's mother stayed married to the stepfather, who was a fugitive for the crime until his death in 2004.
The Plain Dealer also noted that their decision wasn't solely based on the ad controversy, explaining that Acton "has earned consideration on her own record, her preparation, and her commitment to the people she seeks to serve."
"Ramaswamy has offered Ohioans far less reason to trust him," the outlet argued.
"He has focused much of his attention on wealthy donors while steadfastly refusing to explain what he would do about many of the issues he would face as governor."
Vivek Ramaswamy desperately takes a page from Trump's playbook
Despite the ad facing condemnation across the political spectrum and threatening his chance at victory, Ramaswamy has doubled down, vowing to spend $4 million to continue airing it.
While speaking at a campaign rally on Friday, Ramaswamy reportedly insisted the ad had nothing to do with sexual abuse and argued the backlash he is facing is somehow part of a larger conspiracy.
"The irony is they're lying about an ad that is about lying. They're changing the subject because they don't want to answer for their own failures," Ramaswamy said.
Ramaswamy – a MAGA loyalist – has gotten support from the Trump administration.
Vice President JD Vance told the party to "stop whining" over the ad if they wanted to win in the midterms, while President Donald Trump said he urged Ramaswamy to keep pushing the ad and dismissed the backstory about Acton and her mother as a lie.