TORONTO, Ont. - Sarah Thomson announced Tuesday she has dropped out of the race for the city's top job.
She also said her full support would be behind mayoral candidate George Smitherman.
"I have debated with and against five other candidates for the chance to serve Toronto as your mayor. I have had considerable time to evaluate all of the candidates. I have watched George Smitherman in action, listened to his experience and I am inspired by his ideas and his passion for change."
Thomson was welcomed into Smitherman's office with a roaring applause and a promise from him to work together with her on policy.
"[...] There are areas where she's landed on something that I think can enhance the policies that we've developed so far and those that maybe we haven't released yet - of course I'm going to come under her influence."
In a one on one interview with 680News, Thomson admitted the bank account for her campaign dried up two months ago.
She went on to say she has no respect for candidate Rob Ford.
"[...] Please look very closely at Rob Ford if you're thinking of voting for him. Scratch the surface, I don't think you'll like what you see underneath."
Thomson's name will still remain on the actual ballot for the election. She missed the September 12 deadline for nominations and withdrawals. So it means people can still vote for her.
Meantime, with Thomson out of the mayor's race candidate Rocco Rossi said he now represents the only non-politician among the mainstream contenders.
And even though he knows Thomson is personally endorsing Smitherman's campaign, Rossi said he thinks the bulk of her supporters are going to back him.
"[...] Both of us were from the outside, both of us from business background, both of us offering a break from the traditional politics - the traditional battles."
Rossi insisted he would not withdraw from the mayoral race and said he is under no pressure to do so.
Just over a week after a Nanos poll showed that mayoral front-runner Rob Ford was miles ahead of the other candidates, a different poll indicates the gap between Ford and Smitherman is much closer than previously thought
The new poll, conducted for Global Television, includes people who said they were "absolutely certain" they would be voting on election day.
And given those terms, Smitherman and Ford are virtually tied for the lead, with 30 per cent voting for Smitherman and 29 per cent backing Ford.
The two candidates are followed by Joe Pantalone with 14 per cent and Rocco Rossi with six per cent.