Why Rob Ford will win again in Toronto
Source: Toronto Star
By Dan Rath
Don’t get me wrong — I’m no fan of Rob Ford. In fact, let me declare a small bias up front: I consider our incumbent mayor a repugnant, vicious, bullying thug.
But after 40 years of reporting on, analyzing, strategizing within and dissecting municipal, provincial and federal elections, I see a perfect storm brewing — a unique set of four factors that points toward the re-election of our chief reprobate.
... This year, Hollywood and Jimmy Kimmel have helped Ford become a larger-than-life celebrity, adding to his already remarkable levels of awareness and familiarity, attributes that consistently drive ballot choices. It’s having an effect. The latest Forum Research polls show Ford with a late-summer baseline of some 32 per cent of the decided vote, after everything he’s put us through. To a significant portion of our electorate, celebrity and notoriety blend into a single positive criterion for mayoral electability.
... But the tidal wave in this fall’s perfect storm is factor four — the potential appeal of a “reformed” Rob Ford. Doug Ford is a cunning strategist; he can read these tea leaves, too. His candidate brother can deliver his lines and execute, not suavely, but with great impact and effectiveness. If the Fords put the mayor forward as a contrite, changed person who has learned a lesson from everything he’s been through, the conditions are in place for him to cobble together enough votes to prevail over John Tory and Olivia Chow on Oct. 27.
Read more: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2014/08/27/why_rob_ford_will_win_again_in_toronto.html
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Related: Rob Ford only a few points behind Tory in new mayoral poll
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/rob-ford-only-a-few-points-behind-leading-tory-in-new-mayoral-poll/article20231613/
Rob Ford’s support appears to be rising as the gap between him and frontrunner John Tory narrows with two months left in Toronto’s mayoral race, according to a new poll.
... The poll suggests Mr. Ford is enjoying support levels not seen since March.