Astorino releases provocative ad to attack Cuomo in governor's race

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino has come out with a provocative new TV commercial that mimics a controversial ad used by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1964 presidential campaign.

The ad, used to attack Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, opens with a child counting daisy petals. A narrator issues a count-down. Then there's a loud explosion and a huge cloud erupts that morphs into Cuomo's face.

Superimposed are the words "Andrew Cuomo under federal investigation for corruption, witness tampering, obstruction of justice."

The voice ominously says: "These are the stakes. Do we re-elect a governor who may end up in jail?"

Federal prosecutors are investigating whether Cuomo meddled with his state-anti-corruption commission. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Cuomo's campaign noted that Astorino also is involved in a federal investigation involving housing desegregation.

The ad used by Johnson's campaign against Republican Barry Goldwater featured a little girl picking petals from a daisy before a nuclear mushroom cloud erupts.

The so-called "Daisy Ad" aired just once, in September 1964.

Astorino's 30-second commercial, entitled "Jail," is being delivered Monday to network and cable television stations statewide, and will air for a single day.

"This is not an ad you need to see twice," Astorino spokeswoman Jessica Proud said.

(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)