Ramaswamy says he was joking about renaming Lake Erie

SANDUSKY — It looks like Lake Erie likely won't become "Lake Ohio" anytime soon after all. A statement from the campaign for Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said the candidate was just kidding when he suggested a new name for Lake Erie. According to news reports, Ramaswamy brought the proposed name change up in Toledo during a campaign event a few days ago. "Anybody think if there's a Lake Michigan, maybe there should be a Lake Ohio around here?" Ramaswamy was quoted as saying in news articles. "I'm feeling that. We'll talk about that a little bit more as this campaign progresses." Ramaswamy apparently was referring to President Trump's ongoing efforts to rename the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America." Ohio news outlets took him seriously and reported on the proposed name change. The Register requested an interview with Ramaswamy to ask about the proposal. Instead a spokesman emailed back, "It was a joke, not a policy proposal. The audience at the event understood that." Ramaswamy is scheduled to speak at the Erie County Republican Party's Lincoln Day dinner, which is set for April 2 at the Sandusky-area Kalahari Resorts & Conventions. His campaign got a big boost when President Donald Trump endorsed him. Ohio's gubernatorial election is next year. Gov. Mike DeWine is retiring when he finishes serving his two terms. Ramaswamy's main Republican opponent, at least so far, is attorney general Dave Yost, who responded to Ramaswamy on X.com. "Lake Erie is mentioned in the state constitution and at least 94 statutes," Yost wrote. "A governor does not have the authority to change either, unlike a president. "And of course, a president can't change state constitution or statute either," Yost added. "I was referring to the president's change of a name of place in America, which he does have the authority to do."