Former Democratic New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer launched his first TV ad Tuesday in his bid to become New York City comptroller, and in it he alludes to the prostitution scandal that pushed him out of office.
"Look: I failed big-time," Spitzer says in the ad. "I hurt a lot of people. When you dig yourself a hole, you can either lie in it for the rest of your life or do something positive."
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Spitzer quit as governor in 2008 after it was discovered he was consorting with prostitutes. Earlier this month, he announced his candidacy for city comptroller.
A state attorney general who made his name fighting malfeasance on Wall Street, he is setting up his campaign as a continuation of that effort.
"Make sure the Wall Street firms that want us to invest with them play by the rules," Spitzer says in the ad. "So if you hear any negative noise — and you will — keep in mind where it's coming from. Maybe being hated by the Wall Street firms isn't such a terrible thing."
A Quinnipiac University poll conducted July 8-14 shows Spitzer leading Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, his opponent in the Democratic primary, 48 percent to 33 percent.
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