Ohio Democrat Brian Poindexter’s daughters affectionately teased their father in his first general-election ad for his campaign against Republican Rep. Max Miller.

The minute-long spot does not directly mention Miller’s family drama, including domestic abuse allegations made by his ex-wife and a lawsuit after his legal team accidentally published a nude photo of his 2-year-old daughter while trying to refute the accusation. Still, the subtext was difficult to miss, Politico reported.

“He always shows up: for family dinner, for our games, to help with homework — even when he’s not helpful,“ the daughters say. “He shows up for everyone, coworkers, neighbors and our whole community. For anyone who’s getting hurt or needs a hand.”

Poindexter’s daughters Ashley, Makayla and Taylor giggle nervously on camera and jokingly poke fun at their father for keeping his phone clipped to his belt "like it's 2003" and for spontaneously performing the "floss" dance for the Fortnite video game, which the ad shows him trying with the girls.

"What a dork," one of them says, laughing.

Poindexter’s campaign has highlighted his working-class background, which his daughters also mention, along with a focus on affordability. In that sense, the ad is doing more than introducing a candidate: it is reinforcing the kind of personal, family-centered message campaigns often use to define a first impression before voters hear much from the opposing side. Politico reported that the "Daughters" ad "attempts to thread the needle" by emphasizing his personal family values in an explicit — but unstated — contrast to Miller.

“I’m not going to D.C. for me," Poindexter says in a voiceover at the end of the ad. "I’m going for my daughters — and yours.”

The campaign spot drew strong reactions on social media.

"The all-time 'contrast' ad from the guy running against Max Miller," law professor Ben Yelin wrote.

"Quite the contrast to Max Miller," Democratic strategist Jesse Ferguson said.

"Great ad (and begs the question: what do the people closest to Max Miller say about him?)," Amanda Litman of Run for Something said.

"Max Miller could never," Colin Seeberger of Center for American Progress wrote. "Poindexter is a real one."

"Okay.. @bpforcongress had me tearing up this morning," union activist Anthony Caldwell said. "As a #girldad myself, this video really hit me in the heart. Elect Brian Poindexter so we can have a union girl dad in Congress fighting for all of our families."

"Kinda amazing that a sweet ad featuring your adorable kids simply talking about what a good guy their dad is can, merely by implication, double as a brutal attack ad, but that’s where we are when a sociopathic serial domestic abuser is somehow representing Ohio," Bluesky user Bill Haverchuck wrote.