At first debate, Rob Ford holds his own with tested strategy

[Locutus]

Mayor brushes aside attacks by John Tory, Olivia Chow in debate that barely touched on the crack scandal.



Mounting his second run for mayor, Rob Ford returned Wednesday to the strategy that made him an adept and elusive debater during his first: stick doggedly to the dollars-and-cents matters in his wheelhouse, shrug off questions about character, sometimes make false claims.

Ford was the focus of the first 2014 debate featuring the five major candidates for the mayoralty — a free-wheeling, oft-chaotic City TV affair in which all five at times resorted to shouting to make themselves heard. The incumbent held his own, pivoting quickly to practised counter-attacks.

None of Ford’s challengers spoke directly about his crack cocaine scandal. They did confront him obliquely. Olivia Chow called him an “international embarrassment.” John Tory said he has “let the taxpayers down in this city very badly.”

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At first debate, Rob Ford holds his own with tested strategy | Toronto Star





Jimmy KimmelVerified account ‏@jimmykimmel

oh my goodness, @TOMayorFord is JFK compared to some of these candidates #TOpoli #cityvote





Toronto mayoral debate: Rob Ford fends off Olivia Chow and John Tory in chaotic yelling-match

Toronto mayoral debate: Rob Ford fends off Olivia Chow and John Tory in chaotic yelling-match | National Post




Mayor Rob Ford's rivals steer clear of "crack cocaine" in debate

Mayor Rob Ford's rivals steer clear of "crack cocaine" in debate | Toronto & GTA | News | Toronto Sun

 

[Locutus]

Olivia Chow for Mayor of Toronto: From your wallet to union pockets - YouTube

She is an idiot.

 

[DaSleeper]

Nice double talk......

 

[pgs]

Nice double talk......

He should have let her continue to speak . Why interrupt someone when they are shooting at their feet .

 

[mentalfloss]

It would be unwise to draw conclusions about the likely outcome of the race for mayor of Toronto on the basis of one debate, especially a debate fully seven months from the election date. Still, the 90-minute exchange among the five leading candidates left some strong impressions.

The first is that, despite everything, Rob Ford is still a strong contender. The second is that Olivia Chow is his most formidable challenger. The third is that John Tory is in trouble. The fourth is that Karen Stintz and David Soknacki are already looking like also-rans, far behind the other three in performance and impact.

Don’t count out Rob Ford from Toronto race just yet - The Globe and Mail

 

[Locutus]

It would be unwise to draw conclusions about the likely outcome of the race for mayor of Toronto on the basis of one debate, especially a debate fully seven months from the election date. Still, the 90-minute exchange among the five leading candidates left some strong impressions.

The first is that, despite everything, Rob Ford is still a strong contender. The second is that Olivia Chow is his most formidable challenger. The third is that John Tory is in trouble. The fourth is that Karen Stintz and David Soknacki are already looking like also-rans, far behind the other three in performance and impact.

Don’t count out Rob Ford from Toronto race just yet - The Globe and Mail

Wow, bold and everything. :lol:

Anyway, nobody is doing what your little counting buddy there is lecturing about. They're discussing how the first (and soon to be forgotten) debate played out.

 

[lone wolf]

Unless Ford's changed from his bombastic radio persona, I can see his tested strategy as being of the "shout-'em-down-and-yell-over-'em" variety - unless he's cornered where he'll just deny....

 

[BornRuff]

Olivia Chow for Mayor of Toronto: From your wallet to union pockets - YouTube

She is an idiot.

I didn't catch this debate last night. Was it all like this? That "question" seemed to just be 2 minutes for John Tory to talk about his position and berate Chow.

I can definitely see how a debate structured around who can yell the loudest would benefit Ford.

 

[Locutus]

I didn't catch this debate last night. Was it all like this?

Then search and watch it.

That "question" seemed to just be 2 minutes for John Tory to talk about his position and berate Chow.

What was his question to her?

What was her answer?

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

I didn't catch this debate last night. Was it all like this? That "question" seemed to just be 2 minutes for John Tory to talk about his position and berate Chow.

I can definitely see how a debate structured around who can yell the loudest would benefit Ford.

I saw some of it. I saw a Toronto Star reporter ask Olivia a leading question allowing her to give a campain speech response. And I saw John Tory's question too (a brilliant move -- do a speech and then attack your main opponent). I didn't actually catch any of Ford's responses.

Curious why the 4 didn't all attack Ford mercilessly? Seems like poor strategy on their part. If they can't knock Ford down and out, I can see him winning -- particularly if Tory fizles.

I think only thing clear is it is a 3 team race for now. My guess it will be Ford-Chow by November. Question is will Tory back Ford?

 

[damngrumpy]

Good God if people actually re-elected this guy after all the nonsense that went down
they would demonstrating just how little respect they have for our society. Toronto is
a strange place indeed. This is not a case of what he does on his own time its deeper
than that.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

Good God if people actually re-elected this guy after all the nonsense that went down
they would demonstrating just how little respect they have for our society. Toronto is
a strange place indeed. This is not a case of what he does on his own time its deeper
than that.

That is exactly what it is. It did not affect his performance of mayor.

And he has got Toronto on the map more than any prior mayor in history with possible exception to Mel Lastman.

 

[taxslave]

Just consider the positions of the opposition and Ford does not look so bad.

 

[BornRuff]

That is exactly what it is. It did not affect his performance of mayor.

And he has got Toronto on the map more than any prior mayor in history with possible exception to Mel Lastman.

What map is that? Do we want to be on that particular map?

Curious why the 4 didn't all attack Ford mercilessly? Seems like poor strategy on their part. If they can't knock Ford down and out, I can see him winning -- particularly if Tory fizles.

I think only thing clear is it is a 3 team race for now. My guess it will be Ford-Chow by November. Question is will Tory back Ford?

Ganging up on Ford could backfire. He has canned responses for every possible attack and harping on them just gives him more opportunity to repeat these talking points.

Ford is a special kind of political creature. There are so many things that you could say about him, that in theory, would sway support away from him. But all of that has been said a million times and obviously they have little impact on his supporters.

The real fight is between the other people in terms of who people will rally around as the Ford alternative.

As far as Tory backing Ford though, I don't think there is a chance in hell that would happen.

 

[lone wolf]

Good God if people actually re-elected this guy after all the nonsense that went down
they would demonstrating just how little respect they have for our society. Toronto is
a strange place indeed. This is not a case of what he does on his own time its deeper
than that.

Meh... It's Toronto - and NOOOOOO-BODY is better at getting attention

 

[BornRuff]

Then search and watch it.

Lol, thanks.

What was his question to her?

What was her answer?

Well, his "question" was mostly a speech about his opinions on contracting out garbage.

But the overall question was if she would contract out garbage collection in the east, and she said she would not.

And I saw John Tory's question too (a brilliant move -- do a speech and then attack your main opponent). I didn't actually catch any of Ford's responses.

I like John Tory, but I don't think this question was all that brilliant for him.

The first bit is mostly a plug for one of Rob Ford's signature policies, and yelling at her about being the NDP candidate is something that is going to play better to Ford's base than his own. If he continues on that tact, he is going to get Rob elected, not himself.

 

[mentalfloss]

Jimmy Kimmel lampooned Mayor Rob Ford and the other four candidates who sparred in a campaign debate Wednesday night.

“None of the candidates specifically mentioned drugs,” the late-night talk-show host told his audience.

“Do I have to do everything for you people?”

TheStar

 

[Locutus]

comedy gold that.

 

[Tonington]

Audience polling after the debate:

 

[BornRuff]

Audience polling after the debate:

For anyone who watched the debates, do you think she did a good job?

I have yet to really see anything from her that makes me want to vote for her. I get the feeling that she has a lot of support purely based on the fact that people know her has the left wing candidate, and not based on anything she has said or aspects of her platform.