“Was It immature? Yes. Was It Juvenile? Yes. Was It Perverted? Probably.”

Independent Ohio blogger D.J. Byrnes broke the story of a Republican advert featuring the estranged mother of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton. The ad, which attacked Acton’s account of childhood abuse, drew widespread condemnation and may have hurt Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign.

Byrnes first reported the plan on 12 October and later published the unaired clip before major news organisations. Ramaswamy acknowledged the project and said he would spend $4 million promoting it, but the campaign later pulled the advert. A recent USA Today poll put Acton four points ahead, with some voters saying the ad changed their view of Ramaswamy; the article says the controversy could also affect other Ohio races.