Mayor Ford’s approval rating slips on latest scandals

A new Forum Research poll suggests Rob Ford’s approval rating has taken a hit by the latest videos and audio recording that allegedly show Toronto’s mayor smoking crack cocaine and making lewd comments.

Only 38 per cent surveyed approve of the job Ford is doing as mayor, down sharply from 46 per cent two weeks ago.

“It appears there is finally a limit to what Ford Nation will stand for, and the mayor may have passed it,” Forum president Lorne Bozinoff said in a release.

The Forum poll of 888 Toronto voters 18 years and older was conducted Thursday, the day after Ford announced he’d take a leave of absence to get professional help for what he says is an alcohol problem. The survey is considered accurate plus or minus three percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Ford left his Etobicoke home on Thursday morning following three separate reports that alleged he was smoking crack cocaine at his sister’s home on Saturday, saying he’d like to “f****** jam” mayoral candidate Karen Stintz and describing a recent binge that began on St. Patrick’s Day weekend in March.

Ford flew from Buttonville airport to Chicago’s Midway airport and one media report, citing his lawyer Dennis Morris, said he has checked into an unnamed rehab centre. Morris wasn’t immediately available for comment.

The poll also said that Ford’s base of supporters has shrunk. One-quarter of voters said they’d vote for him in the Oct. 27 municipal election, which is down from three in 10 two weeks ago and from four in10 in previous months.

But one third of voters would vote for Ford if he’s clean and sober.

The poll also shows that mayoral candidate John Tory would benefit if the mayor doesn’t run for re-election. Without Ford, Tory and Olivia Chow are essentially tied with 32 per cent and 34 per cent, respectively.

“If he doesn’t rejoin the race, John Tory is the beneficiary, as Ford voters will not vote Chow,” Bozinoff said.

With Ford in the race, Chow would win with 33 per cent, followed by Tory’s second place finish at 27 per cent and Ford’s third place finish at 22 per cent, the poll said.

How is Ford doing in your opinion? Share your thoughts in the comments.

 

Forum Research poll

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