Luke Thomas
Role at the time: Journalist and Morning Kombat co-host, on CNN This Morning
Condemned
Statement summary
Thomas calls the ad strategically poor and expects it to worsen Ramaswamy's already higher negatives relative to Acton.
“But the thing is, it's also just strategically poor. Vivek had much higher negatives relative to Acton before the polling started and when this ad came out. I can only imagine that's going to exacerbate, in a sense.”
Open the original interview (opens in a new tab)CNN This Morning: Ramaswamy ad discussion, October 23, 2026Opening panel, approximately 06:03 to 06:10 ET
Audie Cornish discusses the ad with Noel King, Luke Thomas and Carine Hajjar. CNN labels the transcript a rush copy subject to revision.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Why we used this label
The matter under scrutiny is the Ramaswamy campaign's ad using Acton's estranged mother. Luke Thomas criticizes the ad or the decision to promote it.