Mayoral candidates react to new poll showing Ford in the lead; Rossi launches ad campaign
Posted September 20, 2010 5:50 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – Rob Ford’s rivals are dismissing the new Nanos poll that puts the city councillor in first place by a large divide, saying there are still five weeks left on the campaign trail and the numbers can still change.
George Smitherman, currently shown in second place, said he is the only one who can stop Ford from becoming Mayor.
The former Deputy Premier said on Monday that Ford’s vision does not support the melting pot that is Toronto.
“Ride a bike, Asian, gay, woman in need of shelter, immigrant – chances are, you don’t fit into Rob Ford’s Toronto, but you fit into mine.” said Smitherman. “For the next five weeks we will fight with all the vigour that we have. We need to be inclusive and we need to celebrate diversity and that Toronto’s best days lay ahead.”
He added that the fight was far from over and said the five weeks coming up to the election are like five eternities in politics.
Mayoral hopeful Rocco Rossi also has fighting words as he revved up his bid by launching his advertising campaign, Monday.
In response to the poll, Rossi notes there was also a huge gap in 2003 between Mayor David Miller and Barbara Hall.
“As I said before, you ain’t seen nothing yet. There’s five weeks to go, and I intend to work as hard as my parents taught me to do, and we’ll see where we are on October 25,” Rossi told reporters.
One of Rossi’s ads below. Click here to watch and listen to the rest of his radio and TV ads.
