Anthony Weiner said that recent sexting scandals will only help him in his attempt to be mayor of New York City.
"I'm going to be a successful mayor because of it, because it's going to give me a level of independence," he told the Staten Island Advance."I'm not constructing a campaign around the approval of my peers. I'm constructing a campaign around the aspirations of my neighbors."
However, he admitted that he faces an uphill battle.
"I've been derailed the last few days, no doubt about it," he said.
The former Democratic congressman admitted earlier this week that he had sent lewd messages and pictures to women on the internet even after resigning from Congress in 2011 over a similar incident. The photos and messages were first released by the website The Dirty. He had allegedly been messaging women under the pseudonym Carlos Danger.
Weiner had been leading in the polls but he's taken a huge hit since. NYC City Council Speaker Christine Quinn is now ahead.
His campaign was also rocked with the news this weekend that one of his most important staffers had quit. According to the New York Times, campaign manager Danny Kedem stepped down after the new scandal hit.
However, he once again insisted that he would not end his bid for mayor.
"You're stuck with me," he said.
In the interview with the Advance, Weiner also spoke on how the scandals have affected and will continue to affect his family.
Asked how he would explain the incidents to his son, he said "First of all, the kid's going to grow up in Gracie Mansion. So I'm going to say, 'Kid, don't complain.'"
Watch the full interview above, courtesy of the Staten Island Advance.