Vivek Ramaswamy, the controversial MAGA gubernatorial candidate for Ohio, has found himself at the center of a social media storm following the release of a campaign video showcasing him swinging a baseball bat.

On Wednesday, Ramaswamy’s campaign released a video that juxtaposes heavy metal music with clips of him making bold promises about cutting taxes—and, unexpectedly, footage of him practicing his swing in a batting cage.

The video quickly attracted ridicule online, with critics focusing more on his bat swing than on the campaign’s message.

“This man has NEVER swung a bat before,” journalist Chris Cillizza remarked, highlighting the lack of grace in Ramaswamy’s technique.

Political commentator Adam Jentleson was equally unimpressed, critiquing Ramaswamy’s stance: “No load, all his weight on his front foot. Terrible swing, embarrassed for him.”

The online mockery didn’t stop there. Attorney and former Democratic politician Eugene DePasquale expressed disbelief, stating, “They let this swing get out there? It’s embarrassing. I would be worried if a 10-year-old swung the bat like this.”

In a similar vein, Ron Filipkowski, editor-in-chief of the political network MeidasTouch, quipped, “He swings like the last kid picked in the 7/8-year-old coach-pitch league.”

The backlash raised questions about the campaign’s decision-making process. Jake Lahut, a journalist, remarked, “Absolute malpractice by this campaign. It will be studied.”

Speculation ran rampant across social media about the motivations behind the video release.

“Only explanation here is that Vivek’s digital team hates him and wants him to lose,” suggested political strategist Alex Jacquez, echoing a sentiment shared by others online.

Eric Boehm, a writer for Reason magazine, simply lamented, “Oh no,” reflecting the disbelief many felt at the video’s release.

Mike Guardabascio, a sportswriter, criticized both Ramaswamy’s swing and the editing of the video, stating, “A disqualifying swing and whoever edited it did their best to clip out his setup and load and it still looks bad.”

Political strategist Steve Schale weighed in with a suggestion that every campaign needs a “’no’ guy—someone the boss trusts who has the ability to stop all bad ideas.”

Robyn Patterson, a political communications strategist, added her thoughts on the incompetence of the digital team: “I’ve never disliked a boss enough to let them post something like this.”

Keith Olbermann, a veteran commentator, speculated further, claiming, “Somebody he pays money to told him, ‘no, no, you look GREAT,’” suggesting a disconnect between Ramaswamy and his advisors.

The incident paints a larger picture of Ramaswamy’s struggle to connect with voters in an increasingly polarized political environment.

As he attempts to position himself as a serious contender in the Ohio gubernatorial race, this video debacle could serve as a pivotal moment in shaping public perception.

Given the immediate backlash and continuing social media buzz, the fallout from this video may have implications for Ramaswamy’s campaign strategy moving forward.

With these recent developments, voters will be watching closely to see how he responds and what direction his campaign takes next.