Rob Ford trailing in Toronto polls: will he get higher?

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      Despite the boundless optimism shown by Toronto mayor Rob Ford (and his brother Doug) regarding this fall's mayoral election, a new poll indicates that the real race might be between two of his challengers.

      A Nanos Research Poll that surveyed 600 Torontonians by phone between July 2 and July 5 reveals that John Tory would get the votes of 39.1 percent of decided voters if they went to the polls today.

      Olivia Chow would snag 32.7 percent, and Ford languished at 21.7 percent. (David Soknacki and Karen Stintz would round out the field at less than five percent each.)

      The random poll, commissioned by the Ontario Convenience Stores Association, has a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points 19 times out of 20.

      "Rob Ford has little growth potential at this time given that he is not the second preference for many supporters of either top two contenders," Nanos stated.

      Mayor Ford, who recently returned from about two months in rehab to treat drug and alcohol problems, has been relatively quiet since he resumed his city-council duties.

      Maybe Rob and Doug will remember that his high approval ratings came when he had a similarly high public profile.

      Not to forecast a return to his previous moist and garrulous state, but a carefully staged over-refreshed outburst or two prior to the October 27 election might help restore his old popularity.

      After all, relapse is an expected part of the recovery process, and voters might sympathize with someone who, despite his best efforts to get clean, is really just demonstrating that he is only human, like them.

      But that would be a cynical viewpoint.

      Comments

      7 Comments

      Alan Layton

      Jul 8, 2014 at 7:07am

      What a terrible pun.

      Hazlit

      Jul 8, 2014 at 8:21am

      Olivia Chow all the way!

      Go Fuck Yourself

      Jul 8, 2014 at 9:06am

      Rob Ford. National embarrassment. Even worse that he is still here.

      Martin Dunphy

      Jul 8, 2014 at 11:21am

      Alan Layton:

      Why, thank you!

      Alan Layton

      Jul 8, 2014 at 12:44pm

      So there is somebody at the wheel after all! I was beginning to think that everyone at The GS slept in. You appear to have missed the McCallum story.

      MarkFornataro

      Jul 8, 2014 at 12:54pm

      Re:"voters might sympathize with someone who, despite his best efforts to get clean, is really just demonstrating that he is only human, like them."-with this in mind maybe Ford should change his slogan from 'Ford more years' to 'Ford more beers'or 'beer today, gone tomorrow.'

      anne alexander

      Jul 11, 2014 at 5:32am

      so tired of this guy , i am pretty sure if you bet money on him F@#% up again , you will win, wait it will only be a matter of time, he went to rehab not to get clean, but to hide from reporters , if he gets in again god help the GTA