(CNN) - In what may be an effort to quiet speculation he will drop his bid for a full term, embattled New York Gov. David Paterson is hitting the airwaves with a major ad buy intended to reintroduce himself to voters.
Just under a year before Election Day, the New York Democrat is going up with two ads statewide that highlight his unique biography and address his critics head on.
"Some say I shouldn't be running for governor," Paterson says in one of the ads, called 'Some say.' "It might have been easier if all I thought about was running for governor. But I think it's more important to do what's right for the people of New York."
The second ad, called "When," notes the governor's blindness and the lessons he has learned from both his successes and failures throughout life.
"When you become governor, you learn you will make mistakes," the ad's narrator states. "But in the depths of a historic recession you take what you have learned and have the strength to do what's right."
Tracy Sefl, a spokeswoman for Paterson, said the commercials will run for several weeks and constitute a "multi-million dollar" ad buy.
The early and expensive advertising blitz is perhaps a gamble for Paterson, whose approval rating stands at 30 percent, according to a recent Quinnipiac University poll. Paterson also trails New York Attorney Gen. Andrew Cuomo by more than 40 points in a hypothetical 2010 Democratic primary match up, according to that poll. Cuomo has not yet announced whether he will challenge Paterson.
But Sefl brushed aside suggestions the campaign is in danger of burning through its coffers before most voters are paying attention, noting they have already received an "incredible response" from supporters who had seen the ads.
"Voters want to hear his story," Sefl said.
Paterson was lieutenant governor when a scandal led to then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer's departure from the office in March 2008.
From CNN Politics
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I wish he would step down, and it has nothing to do with his vision. My father has RP and both my little boys have a 50/50 chance at coming down with RP. It has to do with the fact that Patterson is a weak leader on way too many levels.
Paterson will be the next unemployed democrat governor.
He will be allright as long as duffus doesn't campaign for him.
The Democratic tribe has spoken. They won't back Paterson, so it's all on him to make this a reality. Good luck on your conquest chasing windmills, Governor Paterson. You will need it in droves.
Coming out of the mouth of a man that wants to spend your hard earned money for his entitlement programs.
Then all you people wonder why you never get any where in life.
Great job, Gov Patterson! People sure don't like a country to be balanced in a clean and honest way.
I'm sorry, governor, but, since you have been at the helm, I have not seen anything that helps New Yorkers get out from under the higher taxes...Albany seems to care only about one thing....taxing us more to fund more useless spending. How about cutting some needless jobs; WE at our jobs are asked to do more with less help, so, why can't the state do the same? WE at our jobs are asked to absorb more medical coverage costs, so, why can't you negotiate with the unions and try to do the same...with pensions too...I really detest that WE have to help pay for increases to pensions when ours are at a standstill....and why can't our representatives have a freeze on their wages when many companies are laying off? And, the big one: cutting aid to education is absolutely unacceptable! Where does all this glorious LOTTO money go that is supposed to help ? Sorry, Mr. Paterson...you won't get my vote....I may not vote at all!
Given what sheep the American public is, he might as well give up now given that SNL has made fun of him being blind.
America for some strange reason hero worships entertainers. How ironic given that we enable everything they have.
Silly, silly, silly...
Seff said voters want to hear his story. Unfourtunately he made the mistake of assuming that all NYers support gay marriage (not speaking civil issues here)...so that told most of the story...he would sell his convictions for a vote. As for his disablity...that challenge is a great one...and he IS respected for his achievements on that but that does not discount his view is represenative of all NYers..not just for him. You want my vote Gov. Patterson you have to stick with the moral ground.
He's doomed. Look what happened to Creigh Deeds in VA even _with_ O's support.
If patterson really wants to do what is right, then he should resign. If not then the mood of this country is to throw him out along with all the other liberal demorats.
Patterson should give up trying to run for Governor, most of NY would not vote for this man. Let just say that the next governor of NY will be a republican, I am democrat and would vote for any other person other then him.
New York state desrves a change in terms of goverment and politics. Paterson is no longer an alternative; his record is self explanative. It's Cuomo's time. This is NY state only hope.
The next Dem governor to lose his job to a Republican: Paterson.
"Coming out of the mouth of a man that wants to spend your hard earned money for his entitlement programs.
Then all you people wonder why you never get any where in life"
I always wonder when folks use the term "you people"....just sayin'.
The Governor should not even think about running in 2010 he will lose big time... Andrew Cuomo is the man for the job.
New York City area skews the govermental and financial balance for rural New Yorkers. These should be dealt with as 2 seperate entities.
The blind leading the blind in NY.
None are as blind as he who will see!
He is awful. Albany has done a horrible job, let's hope this guy runs, so that New York brings back a Republican Governor. Maybe Rudy will run in fact, if yes then it is an easy win for him...
Patterson should just remember one campaign slogan "Obama, one and done."
The Democrats need STRONG candidates for state & federal races. As nice a guy as Paterson might be, he is not a strong candidate and, for the good of his party, should step aside.
And another thing, to Carlos who posted this: "He will be allright as long as duffus doesn't campaign for him"
For eight long years Progressives were told that we should be respectful of Bush because it's un-patriotic to publically show disrespect to the president during war time. Guess what, Carlos???? We're still at war! How about if you conservative-what-ever-you-want-to-call-yourselves show some respect to the current president??!! This name calling is really getting more than a little disgusting. You can disagree with the man without calling him names. Believe me, all that does is show YOU in a really bad light..
Another Democrat thinking he can climb back up after Obama knocked the party down.
This man has taxed everything that he possibly could. We need to clean up some of the waste in Albany starting with his job. Go Cuomo!
Governor Patterson is a smart man. He is getting a head start on his campaign for governor. I wish him well and hope that he wins a full term as New York's governor.