As the campaign enters its final five days, the basic divide doesn’t seem to be changing much: Rob Ford and George Smitherman are basically tied around 40 per cent, with Joe Pantalone in a distant third with about 15 per cent. This leaves the city’s left with a problem they haven’t had in a while: deciding whether to vote their hearts and throw their support to Pantalone, or vote for Smitherman as a way of blocking Ford’s ascent.
Despite his very recent adaptation of the progressive label, Smitherman hasn’t made it easy for lefties to sign up. There was his long campaign against the Miller legacy in the early part of the campaign, the way he adopted some of Ford’s ideas (for example, his awfully similar financial plan), and his willingness to discuss privatizing certain parts of the TTC. All of this makes many lefties nervous.
Pantalone has not, however, been the perfect candidate for the left, either. There’s his history of battling against bars and restaurants in Queen West while working hard to make sure that soccer fans can spend their morning drunk, an odd priority. His campaign has had some regrettable moments in which he has come off as entitled, angry or even petulant. His outburst at Sarah Thomson during the TEA debate springs to mind, as does the moment he told Metro Morning that he would spoil his ballot or stay home rather than vote for Ford or Smitherman. He’s not exactly encouraging voters there. (Tip: politicians are never really asked questions about what they would do as individuals. Questions worded that way are really about what they think others should do.)
So what does the city’s left do? Well, the Post’s Jonathan Goldsbie captures the sense of self-loathing that some must feel when they consider voting for any of the candidates. One idea he has is actually voting for Ford and hoping the left coalesces in council to stonewall everything Mayor Ford tries to do. Others, like Michael Hollett at Now, refuse to be bullied into voting for the second-worst candidate.
The discussion is going to continue until election day, but the results from the 2003 and 2006 elections provide a hint to how all this will end. Look at these polls from Torontoist: the third- and fourth-place candidates lost support badly when it came to the big day. If history holds, Pantalone is going to see a lot of defections come Monday.
• Left stuck in quandary between head and heart, councillor finds [National Post]
• Real Pantalone backers have little choice [Toronto Star]
• Smitherman feverishly hunts Pantalone voters [Toronto Star]
• Posted Political Panel: Goldsbie will hate himself no matter how he votes [National Post]
(Homepage images: Ford, Smitherman, Pantalone by Shaun Merritt)
I’m voting for Pantalone. My opinion matters and the thought of Ford OR Smitherman as mayor makes me shudder. If that is me “giving away” my vote, then so be it.
October 20, 2010 at 1:40 pm | by EMI’m hoping more people will have the guts to vote for who they think will do the better job.
I just can’t stomach Ford representing my city… and will have to go with Smitherman even though Pantalone deserves my vote.
October 20, 2010 at 3:28 pm | by Mr. AlanHopefully Torontonians will remember the disaster that was Mel Lastman and get out and vote to prevent a similar buffoon from taking office.
there is still a large number of undecided, if Pantalone supportors voted for him plus the undecided less the supportors for Ford and smitherman who will not actually vote, there might be a real race, do not vote for what you are calling the worst of 2 disasters
October 20, 2010 at 8:42 pm | by dsIf Pantalone loves this city he’ll back out and encourage his supporters to support Smitherman just to ensure Ford doesn’t win. I’m no Smitherman fan but I’m voting him to keep out Ford. We have to be smart and responsible here. And then Smitherman should recognize that many of the people he’s representing are not like minded and he better take a few minutes to learn what is important to us.
October 21, 2010 at 5:41 am | by JaneVery interesting.. From most of the blog I read, people support Smitherman. He is by far the perfect candidate, but better than Ford. However, when polls come out,they always say that Ford is neck to neck with Smithermand. Who in their right mind wants to bring Toronto back to the 70/80′s when it was one of the most boring city to live-in. With Ford, we can say Bye bye to arts and the downtown core will be dead.
October 21, 2010 at 9:45 am | by foodie514Smitherman is corrupt. I’m not sure how anybody can vote for him. The city needs to get it’s books in order. Ford can do that. Hopefully in 4 years somebody with vision will run. Ford is the best option of the three….by far.
October 21, 2010 at 10:20 am | by RichAnd you dont thiunk Ford is corrupt? Come on!! You think coming in at $0 every year on his budget, while the multi millionaire Ford easily takes and hide funds from his company so he does not look bad & justify the garbage he is feeding us about cleaning up gravy train?! Be real!
I am no Smitherman fan – but gotta go that route. Joe as Mayor? Christ!! 4 more years of David Miller, did you hear his silly transportation plan today? hire 2 GM for TTC..
TORONTO…… WE NEED TO VOTE STRATEGICALLY TO ENSURE WE DONT GO BACK TO THE DOG YEARS. ANYONE BUT FORD BUT NOT JOE!!
October 21, 2010 at 10:53 am | by CRITICTrack records speak for themselves. From what I hear, folks wont vote for Ford simply b/c of his persona and appearance. I don’t understand that, it seems shallow. He has always brought accountability to council. Yes his family is rich…who cares. Please don’t bring up his charges from florida when he was 28….it’s not relevant.
October 21, 2010 at 11:57 am | by RichTrack record as a council member, does not make you a LEADER. That is what people are missing. I dont care about his drinking and wife abused – thats irrelevant- Smitherman had his share of downfall.
We are talking abot leading Canada’s biggest city – put us more on the wrold stage, welcome the world in 2015 to the games, attend concerences worldwide. He is negative person and yes, fiscal responsibility is great. He has done well for Etobicoke, but to lead Toronto – NO. Think back on Mel Lastman – great for North York (BEST ever! I lived there and loved him !) but was he right fo rthe Megacity – NO! Its the same aaahhhhhh, I wish I had ” moment we will have if Ford wins!
October 21, 2010 at 12:04 pm | by CRITICCritic…I totally agree…it’s just Smitherman is terrifying. He part of the political establishment of entitlement and backroom deals(Liberal or PC they are all the same). For me Ford is the only option in a campaign where none are inspiring or ideal. it’s shame really that in Canada’s biggest city this is all we get.
October 21, 2010 at 12:18 pm | by RichEnough of this…I’m going to KFC for a Doubledown. Which I will be expensing to Toronto East General.
October 21, 2010 at 12:31 pm | by RichSmitherman frightens me with his pedigree of Liberal dishonesty. Pantalone doesn’t bring anything new to the table from David Miller. I’m on the “Anything but Smitherman or Pantalone” train.
Rob Ford for Mayor!!!!
October 21, 2010 at 1:04 pm | by SergioHey Rich…. Yeah.. I agree… this is what Canada’s biggest city has come to… well, come monday it will be what was meant to be… the world is changing!!
Yeah..if you gonna expense to the hospital, why be so cheap with a KFC ? Go big and stay a night at the $5000 night suite at the Hazelton and expense to the City of Toronto before Ford moves in and clean the gravy train!
October 21, 2010 at 1:39 pm | by CRITICI’m very discouraged. We live in one of the world’s great cities, and yet our choices for mayor are truly abysmal. I will vote Smitherman, as Ford truly appears to be a creep. The system is broken – Canada’s largest corporate and economic driver is in debt. It doesn’t make sense. Is it the case that all our recent past mayor’s were more or less incompetent, or is the City Council/Mayor’s Office in Toronto destined to simply try and stop the bleeding?
October 21, 2010 at 2:39 pm | by Greg WoodBREAKING NEWS!!!!
Ford now backtracks and says he cant cut the Toronto LTT. He now blames the provincial govt…is this the fors tof many to come ? I tell you all….ANYONE BUT FORD!!
I BEG YOU ALL… DONT MAKE ME WAKE UP 26TH WITH FORD LEADING OUR CITY! I WILL BE FORCED TO MOVE TO A BETTER CITY – DETROIT!!
October 21, 2010 at 6:15 pm | by CRITIC