Vivek Ramaswamy campaign ad for Ohio ‘shameful, disgusting’, says Republican congresswoman – US politics live

Multiple protesters were removed from Donald Trump’s rally at South Carolina’s Clemson University on Wednesday, including one who was apparently punched by a rally attender – to the US president’s delight.

“That was great, man. Wow. Man, I loved that. I watched that,” Trump said. “That was incredible. Wow. That was unbelievable. Is everybody OK?

“Who’s the guy that threw that punch?” he continued. “You know, you reminded me of Evander, the real deal, Holyfield,” referring to the former heavyweight champion, who was also in attendance at the rally.

“You gotta give them credit. It takes courage to do that at a Trump rally,” he said. “He got whacked.”

The president was interrupted at least nine times by hecklers. One protester who was removed by security was followed by a rally attendee, who appeared to slap the demonstrator on the head.

Trump was in South Carolina to support Darline Graham, the sister of late senator Lindsey Graham who died suddenly in July from a heart condition. Graham, elected to her brother’s seat in a special election, is facing Democratic challenger Annie Andrews in her bid for a full six-year term.

Responding to the ad yesterday, Amy Acton told a group of voters that her mother was not well and Ramaswamy shouldn’t have “exploited her”.

Earlier in the week, her brother had called Ramaswamy’s attack ad a “despicable low” in a statement released by Acton’s campaign:

It’s not surprising that Vivek Ramaswamy has stooped to such a despicable low as to attempt to turn the sexual abuse Amy endured at twelve years old from our birth mother’s husband into a political talking point.

After he was arrested and Amy and I were removed from their custody, our birth mother stayed married to Amy’s rapist until he died. 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.”

The ad, which had circulated among conservatives on social media, featured Acton’s mother, Donna Arthur, urging Ohioans to not vote for her daughter.

The Ohio gubernatorial campaign between Acton and Ramaswamy is regarded as one of the uglier contests in the 3 November midterm elections.

Acton has refused to debate Ramaswamy, who she has called a “chronic liar” and has also criticized him for airing an ad which features a woman married to a registered sex offender.

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of US politics. We’re less than two weeks out from the midterm vote and the campaigns are getting even more nasty.

Condemnation continues of Republican Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign in the Ohio governor race after his team put out an attack ad, featuring the estranged mother of his Democrat rival Amy Acton criticising her daughter and calling her a liar.

Acton’s campaign has called it a despicable ad after putting out the clarification that Acton was sexually abused by her stepfather and removed from her mother’s custody at age 12.

Ramaswamy’s team however has dug in behind the ad, and were backed by Veep JD Vance yesterday who condemned Republican criticism. He said Ramaswamy “had the audacity to run a TV commercial which calls ​it out like it is”.

However South Carolina congresswoman Nancy Mace joined the chorus of Republican critics saying:

This ad is going to go down as the most shameful, disgusting, offensive ad this election season.

She said she was stunned, adding:

I just can’t believe that this is what passes for decency in this election.

Stay with us for more developments.