Ford in dead heat with Smitherman in Toronto mayoral race

Rocco Rossi has pulled out of the election and for the first time since June Rob Ford is not ahead in the polls.

Rossi, the Italian-Canadian whose last ditch effort to endear himself to voters included ads comparing himself to Tony Soprano, suspended his campaign on Wednesday night, setting up what many believe will be a two-horse race between Rob Ford and George Smitherman. Joe Pantalone, outgoing mayor David Miller’s chosen successor, is trailing 11 points behind the frontrunners, who are both sitting at about 30 per cent according to the latest poll. The mayoral campaign in Canada’s largest city has drawn national attention largely due to Ford, who has committed virtually every gaffe possible barring strangling puppies in public but has consistently topped the polls. The most recent poll is the first since June that didn’t have him as the frontrunner.