Landslide

While the world's attention will be focused today on the U.S. mid-term elections, in which the Republicans are likely to lose control of the House of Representatives and possibly even the Senate, Toronto's attention will remain firmly focussed on its own municipal election next week.

And for the mayor's race, it's already all over but the shouting: David Miller will bore his way back into office for four more years:

The yawning gap between Mayor David Miller and rival Jane Pitfield in Toronto's election campaign is growing wider, according to a new poll.

The Ipsos Reid survey, conducted on behalf of Global News, CFRB and the National Post, found Mr. Miller's popularity has surged 15 percentage points since nominations closed on Sept. 29. The Mayor now boasts the support of 70% of decided voters, up from 55% in a poll released five weeks ago. Conversely, Ms. Pitfield's popularity has fallen 11 points over the same period, tumbling to 29% among decided voters. The poll on Sept. 29 showed her with 40% support.

With the election less than a week away, 18% of voters remain undecided. But the growing chasm between the two leading candidates suggests Mr. Miller's victory is almost guaranteed, according to John Wright, senior vice-president of Ipsos Reid.

"People have had a chance to size up the candidates and they've made their choices," Mr. Wright said.

The survey confirms the mayoral campaign is a two-way contest between Mr. Miller and Ms. Pitfield. Only 1% of decided voters said they intend to support Stephen LeDrew, the former Liberal Party of Canada president.

"He is a colourful guy and he takes up a lot of air in the room, but the only two serious candidates in this are Jane Pitfield and David Miller," Mr. Wright said.

David Miller could have been handily defeated this year. But the old adage of politics is being proven again: you can't beat somebody with nobody.

And Jane Pitfield never made herself into somebody with a message.

So much the worse for Toronto.

Source: National Post