BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Up until about two years ago, when Kim and Terry Pegula bought the Buffalo Bills, many football fans and politicians in Western New York feared someone outside the area would buy the team and move it.
In his latest campaign ad, Bills great Jim Kelly reminds voters, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, had a part in easing that fear:
"When it looks like the Bills were going to leave, Chuck Schumer made sure that didn't happen. He helped find a new owner and he worked with the NFL to keep the team in Buffalo."
Political analyst and former Schumer staffer Jack O'Donnell called it an effective ad, as Schumer runs for reelection.
"It's an even bigger deal when you have a well-known Republican like Jim Kelly, a Hall of Famer like Jim Kelly, saying Chuck's the one who helped get this done."
Schumer's opponent, Republican Wendy Long, argues any federal representative of Western New York should and would have fought for the Bills.
"Obviously I'm a big advocate of keeping the Bills in Buffalo so I guess maybe this is the first thing we agree on," Long said. "I don't think though that that's really something he should be claiming a lot of credit for. I think it's the people and the team and the great city of Buffalo and I think it's sort of typical of him to cruise in and claim credit for things. That's just what he does."
Still, both the Bills and Kelly complimented Schumer in statements Tuesday.
Team President Russ Brandon said, “The Buffalo Bills are proud to have such a long and productive working relationship with Sen. Schumer. During the ownership transition process Senator Schumer worked day and night to help keep the Bills in Buffalo and we look forward to continuing to work with him in the years to come.”
Kelly meanwhile said Schumer has long been a friend in Washington.
He said, "Senator Schumer is an advocate for causes near and dear to my heart, including Hunter's Hope Foundation's mission to increase universal newborn screening, and his work lobbying the league and potential owners had a direct impact on keeping the Buffalo Bills right here where they belong. Senator Schumer has been a great ally."
Schumer's campaign did not have any comment about the new ad.