55 people plan to vote for Rob Ford: poll

55 people plan to vote for Rob Ford: poll

A new Toronto Star–Angus Reid poll that puts Rob Ford just behind George Smitherman in the mayoral race has instigated rampant gun-jumping across the city. Exhilarated Ford supporters seem to be taking the poll as gospel: “Go get ’em Rob! Go clean up city hall,” one Star commenter wrote. Yes, Ford supporters exist—that’s one revelation the poll provides. The other, less surprising one, is that Ford and Smitherman aren’t actually battling it out for first place. The leading candidate, and by a whopping margin, is someone named “Undecided.”

Of the 413 people polled (lower than the attendance at last month’s Scarborough debate), 51 per cent said they were still shrugging their shoulders. As tempting as it is to speculate, a vice-president at Angus Reid Public Opinion said it most succinctly: “The field is still open.”

Let’s do the math, shall we?

• Undecided: 211 people (51 per cent)
• George Smitherman: 68 people (34 per cent of decided voters)
• Rob Ford: 55 people (27 per cent of decided voters)
• Joe Pantalone: 28 people (14 per cent of decided voters)
• Rocco Rossi: 26 (13 per cent of decided voters)
• Sarah Thomson: 14 people (7 per cent of decided voters)
• Giorgio Mammoliti: 6 people (3 per cent of decided voters)

Still, the Star was clearly paranoid about the poll results, describing Ford as best known for “embarrassing public outbursts.” Well, his camp’s reaction hasn’t done us any favours on that front just yet. “It is a long race, and we’re not going to be distracted by the ups and downs of the race,” a relatively level-headed Ford campaign press release said, leaving out anything politically incorrect.

“Undecided” could not be reached for comment.

Ford surges into second place in mayoral poll [Toronto Star]

This post was updated on April 16, 9:53 a.m.