Smitherman, Ford Virtually Tied In Polls, But Tory Would Surpass Both
Posted June 14, 2010 6:52 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Two recent polls indicate there’s a virtual tie between George Smitherman and Rob Ford, but one of those surveys shows John Tory would take a significant lead if he were to jump into the city’s mayoral race.
Torontonians head to the polls on Oct. 25.
The results of a poll of 1,000 people published in the Globe and Mail shows the outspoken and fiscally-conservative Ford leads the pack with 18 per cent support, ahead of former Ontario cabinet minister Smitherman, who lags two points behind.
Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone has 10 per cent support, followed by Rocco Rossi with nine per cent. Women’s Post publisher Sarah Thomson holds 5.8 per cent, followed by councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, who got 2.5 per cent.
Nearly 40 per cent of the people surveyed said they’re still undecided.
A second poll of 405 people conducted for the Toronto Star returned similar results, but it gave Smitherman the slight edge with 29 per cent support and Ford just behind with 26 per cent.
Sarah Thomson edged out the deputy mayor for third spot, the survey results show, with 17 per cent support, Pantalone with 12 per cent, Rossi with 10 per cent and Mammoliti with four per cent.
That poll included a question about John Tory, the former Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader who announced he wouldn’t be running in January so he could take the helm of the Toronto City Summit Alliance. If he were to join the race he’d have the support of 38 per cent of decided voters, followed by Smitherman with 19 per cent, Thomson with 14 per cent, Ford with 13, Pantalone with 10, Rossi with four per cent and Mammoliti with two per cent support.
“If a strong centre-right candidate got into the race I think you would see a much different race – much more competitive,” says political advertising specialist Rob Trewartha.
“So I think it’s way too early to say who’s going to win the race.”
