Andrew Cuomo is Running…TV Ads in Binghamton

It's still winter but the political advertising season has begun in New York state with former Governor Andrew Cuomo's image popping up on TV screens at dinnertime.

The commercials are running around newscasts on stations in Binghamton and across New York.

They're part of a much-discussed campaign to bring Cuomo back into the public eye less than seven months after he resigned amid a series of scandals.

The 30-second spots are paid for by "Friends of Andrew Cuomo." The New York Times reported an ad tracking company indicated the former governor's campaign account was paying $369,000 for the advertising blitz.

The commercials appear to suggest an innocent Cuomo was hounded out of office not because of serious allegations of sexual harassment but as the result of actions by political foes.

The spot closes with the on-screen message: "Political attacks won. And New Yorkers lost a proven leader."

Although his image is seen, Cuomo is not heard during the commercial.

The former governor hasn't said whether he plans to launch a campaign to defeat Kathy Hochul, who succeeded him after he quit. Cuomo still has millions of dollars in his old campaign account.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.