NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio a central figure in Long Island election ad campaigns

One of the central figures in the campaigns for many down ballot races is a man Long Islanders can't vote for, even if they wanted to.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio may not be the most popular elected official these days. And while de Blasio is not on the ballot this year, and has no authority over voters on Long Island, voters might not know that based on what's been on TV lately.
Many Republican candidates and their backers are doing their best to tie Democratic candidates to the unpopular Democratic mayor through campaign advertisements.
Alexa Mann, of Bellmore, says the ads caught her attention.
"It does make me stop and think if they do agree with Bill de Blasio, do I want to align myself with them?" Mann says.
Executive Dean of the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University Larry Levy says the strategy could pay off for Republicans.
"Bill de Blasio is probably the most unpopular politician in New York, and anyway you can get your opponent to be seen in the shadow of him, could be effective" Levy says.
Nassau Republican Party Chairman Joe Cairo insists the connection is about more than capitalizing on the mayor's sagging polling numbers.
"My wife and I talk about this all the time. We just want it to be over already," says Jeff Shangold, of Woodbury.