WATCH: Eliot Spitzer admits, 'I failed — big time'

Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D) has a simple message for New Yorkers: I screwed up.

Spitzer, who is seeking political redemption with a bid to become New York City's next comptroller, asks voters in a new campaign ad to forgive his past misdeeds and give him a second chance.

"Look, I failed," Spitzer says. "Big time. I hurt a lot of people."

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"When you dig yourself a hole, you can either lie in it for the rest of your life, or you can do something positive," he adds.

Spitzer, who left office in 2008 following revelations that he had frequented prostitutes, also plays up his time as the state's crusading attorney general to explain why he would make a good comptroller.

Still unsure what the heck a comptroller even does? Check out our explainer here.