Round On The Ends, Hi In The Middle

 I am currently trying to keep track of a California Governor's race that should end in a fairly easy victory for the Democrats, but I have been surprised before. You might remember when the Terminator rolled into Sacramento.

Or not.

Because that would be primarily a California issue, and outside the Golden State, why would anyone care who ended up being governor? Well, there is the matter of being the world's fourth largest economy. And it's the place where, currently, a whole bunch of the entertainment industry abides. 

Would Netflix look any different if it originated from, say, Ohio? 

Amy Acton is the Democrat running for governor of Ohio, currently leading Republican (checks notes) Vivek Ramaswamy, by three to seven points. Why should this matter? Well, it could be that Ohio has been a bellwether for Presidential Elections for decades. Lately, the Buckeye state has become something of a Republican stronghold, serving as a platform for Trumpreichs one and two to take off. Their economy squeezes somewhere in between Turkey and Switzerland, which is no particular threat to global finances one way or another, but when someone spends four million dollars to get an ad on the televisions and miscellaneous screens of registered voters two weeks before the election, it causes a stir. 

Especially when that ad features the estranged mother of Democratic candidate Amy Acton, labeling her a liar. It is only when you know that Ms. Acton's stepfather was arrested for the rape and abuse of his stepdaughter who was only twelve years old at the time. Since then, mother and daughter have remained apart, for what seems to be obvious reasons. Until Vivek decided to stir that ugly pot in an attempt to call his opponent's veracity into account. Not about shady real estate deals or failed Alzheimer's drugs, that would be Monsieur Ramaswamy.

You may remember Vivek from a little-seen string of personal appearances as a Republican candidate for president back in 2024. He made quite a scene on the debate stage before ultimately dropping out and endorsing (checks notes) a convicted felon. He was the guy stirring that pot and eventually had to walk away from a thirty percent favorable assessment from Republicans. 

Now he wants to be governor. This creature without a conscience wants to wade into the reflecting pool created by his political mentor. Fellow Buckeye, Junior Dingus Vance was repulsed. Not by the ad, but fellow Republicans "whining" about the ad. 

I live in California, but I can tell you that this should not be a contest. Not even in Ohio.