Paterson launches political ad campaign

ALBANY, N.Y. -  Democratic Gov. David Paterson has launched a multimillion dollar, statewide TV ad campaign -- the first in the 2010 governor's race.

The ads portray him as a man who did the right thing by making tough fiscal decisions, even if it hurt him politically.

Campaign spokeswoman Tracy Sefl says Friday the ads have no end date at this point, and could continue for weeks.

In one of the two ads, Paterson confronts the fact that many don't want him to run for a full term next year. But he says he's the one needed to make tough decisions on spending cuts, force business to pay what he calls a fair share in taxes, and challenge powerful unions to make sacrifices.

Republican candidate Rick Lazio is campaigning on the theme of ending the dysfunction in Albany.