Obama returns to Cleveland amid tight races, Ramaswamy ad controversy

Driving the news: The visit comes amid a firestorm over a $4 million attack ad by Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy featuring Democratic opponent Amy Acton's estranged mother.

• The ad has drawn bipartisan criticism. Acton called it "horrible and hideous," while Republican Sen. Jon Husted said he wouldn't have run it.

The other side: Ramaswamy has defended the ad, while Vice President JD Vance called for fellow Republicans to "stop whining" about it while speaking Wednesday in Cincinnati.

By the numbers: A Bowling Green State University/YouGov poll conducted Sept. 29-Oct. 9 showed Acton leading Ramaswamy 50% to 44%.

• A new Marist poll shows former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown leading Husted 48% to 44%, while other recent surveys have ranged from a tie to a slight Husted advantage.

State of play: Obama won Ohio in both 2008 and 2012, when it was one of the nation's most important presidential battlegrounds.

• Ohio has shifted considerably since Obama's victories, with President Trump carrying the state by 11 percentage points in 2024.

If you go: Obama's rally is scheduled for 10:30am-3:30pm on Saturday, though the exact start time has not been confirmed.

• The venue will be announced 24 hours before the rally. Advance registration is required through the official RSVP page.