Free Republic

A left-wing progressive standard-bearer has won Toronto's mayoral election, triumphing in a historically crowded field of 102 candidates. Olivia Chow, 66, said she will work to build a city that is "more caring, affordable and safe". The race had focused largely on affordability and public safety. It is the second time in eight months Torontonians voted for a mayor following the sudden resignation of incumbent John Tory. The Hong Kong-born Ms Chow is a well-known veteran of Canadian progressive politics.

... It has been amazing to watch Chow slip to third place. Rob Ford, the great helmsman of punk politics, has now crashed out in front of the woman who (the Toronto Star long assured us) was supposed to waltz away with the race, fresh from her stint as MP in the House of Commons. Ms. Chow has plummeted markedly — from her start at 38% to a despairing 23%.... Does the result flow from Mr. Ford’s largely unacknowledged campaigning genius? Is there another person in Toronto, or all of Canada, who could carry the burdens he does, almost all...