Anti-Zohran Mamdani ‘move to Ohio' billboard in Times Square ripped by NYers: ‘Why would we even go there?'
Proud New Yorkers ripped an anti-Zohran Mamdani billboard Monday for urging them to move to Ohio — finding the prospect as unappetizing as a bowl of Cincinnati chili.
'Why would we move to Ohio? We live in New York,' said confused construction worker Leroy Lewis, 44, when asked about the massive Times Square ad.
Another passerby overhead by The Post near 48th Street and Seventh Avenue was anything but 'Midwest nice,' saying: 'What the actual f–k?'
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6 The anti-Zohran Mamdani billboard drew confusion over its design and mockery over its 'Move to Ohio!' message.
Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post
6 'Why would we move to Ohio?' said construction worker Leroy Lewis.
Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post
The befuddling billboard debuted Monday in support of Vivek Ramaswamy's Republican gubernatorial candidacy in the Buckeye State.
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But locals and tourists alike found the billboard's initial poor design and message so wrongheaded it rivaled the Mistake By The Lake, the not-so-affectionate nickname for Cleveland.
The sign was split into two halves, with the first depicting the 'radical socialist' Mamdani and asking 'Ready to flee NYC?'
The sunnier second half showed Ramaswamy's grinning face matched with the message 'Move to Ohio!'
But the invitation to Big Apple denizens worried about the left-wing mayoral contender's lead in the November election was lost on many because of its initial design.
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6 For much of Monday, all pedestrians saw of the billboard was Vivek Ramaswamy smiling at them.
Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post
6 The billboard tries to capitalize on fears of socialist mayoral contender Zohran Mamdani.
Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post
6 New Yorkers didn't appear to be so worried about Mamdani that they'd move to Ohio.
Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post
For much of the day, the billboard wrapped around a Times Square building, making it impossible to see Mamdani and Ramaswamy together. It was later changed so both pols appeared side-by-side.
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Still, onlookers didn't seem likely to book it to the Midwest flyover state.
'What's in Ohio? Why would you even go there?' said Mary Kennedy, 18, who was visiting New York from Houston, Texas.
'I don't have any thoughts on Ohio. We kind of just pass through there. It's just not a place you go.'
Ricardo H., who works in finance, scoffed at both moving to Ohio and Ramaswamy's billboard.
'No, absolutely not, it looks like a smear campaign,' he said.
6 The billboard has since been changed to make Mamdani and Ramaswamy appear side-by-side.
Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post
But a lone Ohio denizen in the Times Square hubbub stuck up for his much-derided home state.
Sammy Anderson, 23, a college football player who was born and raised in Dayton, said he'd encourage people to move to a largely rural state where 'everything's so close.'
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'I mean, it's just a different experience, a different way of living,' he said.
The proud son of Ohio then had this to say about New York City: 'I'm so overstimulated.'
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