It has begun! New York City’s mayoral TV ad wars, this is.
Comptroller Scott Stringer launched a $1 million advertising campaign Tuesday to set himself apart in the crowded Democratic race for mayor.
Stringer strikes a mostly positive tone in the 30-second spot. But he gets in a couple of subtle digs at frontrunner Andrew Yang, who he suggests is a lightweight with few real ties to the city.
“He’s not a celebrity. He doesn’t govern by tweet or by TikTok,” the narrator intones in a ding at the social media-friendly Yang.
The ad, which depicts Stringer striding out the door to work, stakes his claim as an old-school upper West Side liberal who’s ready to lead from the left side of the political spectrum. It ticks off his credentials as a housing activist and a leader in the fight against domestic violence.
“He’s been a progressive from Day 1 who’ll be ready to govern on Day 1,” the ad claims. “He fought against global warming back when it was called global warming.”
Stringer’s ad launch marks the start of the real battle for voters who go to the polls on June 22 to pick the next mayor.
He has a hefty war chest but trails Yang and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams in polls. Maya Wiley, a progressive former city official and MSNBC host, is nipping at Stringer’s heels followed by a host of others hoping to crack into the top ranks.
Most New Yorkers tell pollsters they haven’t made up their minds who should go to Gracie Mansion.
Ray McGuire kicked off his latest tv ad campaign earlier this week and now with Stringer in the mix, Yang and Adams probably won’t be far behind.
Insiders say New Yorkers can expect little respite from the ad wars as the campaign gets increasingly heated in the eight weeks leading up to the vote, which is especially unpredictable because it will be conducted by ranked-choice voting.
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Source (Ny Daily news)