Trump Supports Ramaswamy for Ohio Governor to Avert Dispute

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    In Columbus, Ohio, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy has launched his campaign for governor, and soon after, President Donald Trump voiced his support for the Cincinnati-born biotech entrepreneur. Trump took to his Truth Social platform, praising Ramaswamy as โ€œsomething SPECIAL,โ€ and hailed him as โ€œYoung, Strong, and Smart!โ€ He expressed his confidence in Ramaswamyโ€™s dedication to the country, declaring his โ€œCOMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENTโ€ for the candidateโ€™s gubernatorial run in Ohio.

    This swift endorsement captured the attention of Ohioโ€™s political circles. Over recent years, Trumpโ€™s endorsement history for statewide races in Ohio has shown a pattern of timing that has moved from just before elections to well in advance of them, now over a year ahead. Political strategist Robert Clegg commented on the early endorsement, wondering if it was a signal aimed at Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost or perhaps Jim Tressel, the newly appointed Lieutenant Governor and a beloved former Ohio State Buckeyes football coach, whose political intentions remain uncertain.

    โ€œItโ€™s pretty early for something like this; I was expecting a possible endorsement sometime in the fall or even the following year,โ€ Clegg remarked. โ€œPerhaps the president wants to avoid a contentious primary here in Ohio.โ€ This contrasts with Trumpโ€™s endorsement during the 2022 U.S. Senate race, which was only revealed days before elections and helped shape the outcome in favor of JD Vance.

    In contrast, Trump endorsed Republican Bernie Moreno for Senate far ahead of the primary, a move that preceded Morenoโ€™s success in securing both the primary and general election victories. For Ramaswamy, the endorsement from Trump might prove beneficial as the candidate navigates challenges associated with his limited experience in statewide governance, despite Ohioโ€™s consistent support for Trump over three election cycles.

    Previously a GOP presidential candidate in 2024, Ramaswamy has secured key political advisors from Vanceโ€™s successful 2022 Senate campaign and endorsements from conservative figures, such as Utah Sen. Mike Lee. Despite Trumpโ€™s support, itโ€™s worth noting his mixed success rate in gubernatorial races, with endorsements affecting different outcomes in states like Texas, Wisconsin, Arkansas, and Arizona.

    Ohio tea party influencer Tom Zawistowski suggested that Trumpโ€™s expected endorsement of Ramaswamy may have been a factor in Lt. Gov. Jon Hustedโ€™s decision to assume the Senate seat vacated by Vance. โ€œJon Husted couldnโ€™t withstand a Trump endorsement combined with a well-funded opponent in Vivek,โ€ Zawistowski commented, ascribing the shift in the political scene to Ohioโ€™s dynamic political backdrop.

    He further hypothesized that Gov. Mike DeWineโ€™s appointment of Tressel as Hustedโ€™s successor might position Tressel as the establishment Republican candidate, should Yostโ€™s campaign lose momentum. However, Yost, who faces term limitations, countered by questioning Ramaswamyโ€™s reliability in a statement, casting doubt on his lengthy participation in the governorโ€™s race and pointing to past decisions that, according to Yost, were inconsistent with Ohioโ€™s interests.

    The Buckeye Freedom Fund, supporting Yost, has initiated a campaign targeting Ramaswamy, juxtaposing his policies with those of Trumpโ€™s predecessor, President Joe Biden, particularly concerning the military service of transgender individuals. In response, Ramaswamyโ€™s camp stressed that endorsements from conservative leaders including Trump and Elon Musk leave adversaries little recourse but to misrepresent statements.

    Zawistowski identified Tressel as an โ€œinstitutionalist,โ€ hinting at the potential for significant fundraising from Ohio State alumni and the fanbase, known collectively as Buckeye Nation. With Trump, Musk, and DOGEโ€™s backing so far well-received by the stateโ€™s MAGA base, Zawistowski suggested that Tressel might appeal to moderate Republicans and Democrats in the GOP primary, potentially bypassing Democratic candidate Amy Acton.

    Zawistowski speculated that Trumpโ€™s early entry into the endorsement might aim to prevent this potential shift in primary dynamics by consolidating support for Ramaswamy from the outset.