Ford’s support unshaken throughout crack scandal

Mayor Rob Ford’s support has remained virtually unchanged throughout a drug scandal which has taken hold of city hall.

The Forum Research poll didn’t include the public’s reaction to a video released on Thursday, which shows Ford appearing to make death threats, though the context of the video wasn’t clear. Ford responded by saying he was “very, very inebriated” at the time.

The survey — conducted on Wednesday, a day after Ford admitted to smoking crack — shows 44 per cent of Toronto residents approve of Ford. That number has remained steady since Chief Bill Blair announced police had a video of the mayor allegedly smoking crack cocaine.

The approval rating dropped only one percentage point after Ford apologized for his mistakes on his radio show without addressing his crack use.

Despite his popularity, almost two-thirds — or 61 per cent — of those polled want Ford to resign, up only marginally throughout the scandal.

Sixty-five per cent think Ford should take a leave of absence and deal with his substance-abuse problems.

“It is clear that the mayor has a viable political future, but only if he goes to rehab and gets his addictions under control,” Forum Research President Lorne Bozinoff said in a statement.

“Ford Nation continues to support him, but they are not as likely to vote for him as they were, unless he gets help.”

Three-quarters of Torontonians approve of the job Blair is doing and only one in seven think he should resign, as Coun. Doug Ford has suggested.

Forum says Ford’s approval is highest among men, the oldest, the least wealthy, the least educated, those who drive to work or school and those in the suburbs, especially Scarborough.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today