Advocating simple living

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has spent many winters in Delhi listening to his party bosses advocating simple living. Now, as chief minister of Maharashtra, Chavan seems determined to lead from the front in that aspect. Sources in the ministry say Chavan is reluctant to shift to his official residence Varsha at Malabar Hill despite his predecessor Ashok Chavan vacating it in November because of its opulence.

I know 'advocate' means "supporting" in general but I wonder what it means here.

Source : Mumbai Mirror