This isn’t the first time Paul Bates has played the role of campaign manager.

On the new CTV series, “Dan for Mayor,” a bartender named Dan (Fred Ewanuick) decides to run for public office to win back his old girlfriend. And like any proper mayoral candidate, he’s got a campaign manager -- in this case, his best friend Jeff (Bates).

Jeff doesn’t necessarily have any political savvy of his own, but does possess one valuable asset: He’s the manager of a photo copy store and knows the difference between a pamphlet and a flier (He even manages to churn out a t-shirt or two, albeit with the worst slogans imaginable).

But before taking on the role as Jeff on “Dan for Mayor,” Bates tells CTV.ca that he was first the campaign manager for his friend (and “22 Minutes” writer) Albert Howell, who launched a bid to become the mayor of Toronto in 2003.

He lost.

As for the similarities between the failed campaign he led in 2003 and his on-screen operation?

“Only the feeling of not knowing what I was doing,” says Bates.

“We didn’t do a heck of a lot.”

Despite the laid-back slacker vibe Bates and his cast-mates exude on the show, the actor says they put in long, hard days that are anything but, logging nearly 15 hour days on set.

“You get in before the sun comes up; you leave after the sun goes down. We get right in it. We block a scene out at the top of the day and keeps on rolling,” says Bates.

“There’s a lot of good will and laughter on set. Everyone is really cool and nice, and it makes the day fun. The directors move really fast, and we just keep up.”

That’s not to say he’s completely confident he’s still at the top of his game at the finish of those marathon shoots.

“We get pretty punchy near the end of the day, so we think we’re being funny, and we’re laughing about pretty ridiculous things at that point,” says the actor.

“I think the trick overall is to, you know your lines and know your timings, and just stay true to the script… the comedy is in there.”

“Dan for Mayor” also stars Mary Ashton, Ben Ayres, Anita Vargas, Agam Darshi, Laurie Murdoch, David Ferry and Lara Jean Chorostecki.

Bates is an alumni of The Second City comedy group, and has written and performed in six of their revues. He’s also one-half of the musical duo, The Williamson Playboys, which were featured on the series “Last Comic Standing.”

Bates was nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award for his performance of Mayor Mel Lastman in the musical comedy “SARSical.”

Bates also served as the senior writer for “The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos.”

“Dan for Mayor” airs Monday nights on CTV, as well as Saturday nights on Comedy Network. Full episodes are available online at CTV.ca and on iTunes.