Ramaswamy Attacks Dem Opponent Amy Acton For Not Debating Him

CINCINNATI, OH – Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, who is trailing in several polls in the Ohio governor’s race, has criticized his Democratic rival Amy Acton for declining to debate him while outlining a series of policy proposals, including resuming executions, easing restrictions on handgun purchases by people under 21 and cutting property taxes by $4 billion.

Speaking at a Columbus Metropolitan Club forum on October 14, Ramaswamy, the Republican nominee for Ohio governor, said he supported the death penalty, breaking with outgoing Governor Mike DeWine’s de facto pause on executions. He also said he was open to methods other than lethal injection, Signal Ohio reported.

Ramaswamy said the race should be “not Democrat versus Republican bickering”. He called for data centers to be built only on abandoned industrial sites and proposed consolidating Ohio’s 14 public universities.

Ramaswamy said he had never met Acton and claimed her team had blocked a handshake between them. The claim could not be independently verified.

The two candidates are not scheduled to debate. Acton declined debate invitations in early September, citing personal attacks, including AI-generated advertisements portraying her as an alcoholic. Ramaswamy had accepted invitations from WLWT and CNN.

Recent polls show Ramaswamy trailing Acton, although the results vary. A CNN/SSRS poll conducted from September 29 to October 5 put Acton ahead at 50 per cent to 42 per cent. A New York Times/Siena poll conducted from September 22 to October 1 showed her leading 49 per cent to 45 per cent. However, a co/efficient poll conducted on October 5 and 6 put Ramaswamy ahead 45 per cent to 43 per cent.

Ramaswamy has invested more than $36 million of his own money in the campaign, including an additional $5 million reported earlier this month. A super PAC supporting his candidacy is funded largely by a small group of billionaires, Signal Ohio reported.

His campaign has also faced criticism over his position on data centers. He has walked back an “Ohioans-First” pledge promising free electricity, adding to the challenges facing his campaign.

President Donald Trump has campaigned for Ramaswamy near Dayton, while Vice President J.D. Vance, speaking at a campaign event in Lima, said Ohioans were “running against a crazy person” (IANS)