Smitherman's new ads avoid attacks on Ford

Share

George Smitherman is steering clear of attacks on front-runner Rob Ford in a new series of advertisements unveiled Tuesday.

The former deputy premier's radio, television and print blitz comes as the top four contenders for the mayor's chain begin their final advertising push ahead of the Oct. 25 vote.

The new spots, which call Mr. Smitherman "A man with a plan," target voters from the left and right sides of the political spectrum. Some tout the candidate's plan to freeze property taxes and hiring for a year, while others highlight his "progressive" bona fides, including his arts and culture plan and his record as a human-rights campaigner.

The ads are running on all the major TV and radio stations in the city, as well as about a dozen newspapers, a spokesman for the campaign said. Mr. Smitherman declined to reveal the cost of the ad buy.

Mr. Smitherman doesn't believe it's necessary to point out Mr. Ford's negatives this late in the race.

"I think the people of Toronto, at this point, I think they know what they're dealing with in terms of Councillor Ford," he said. "His mug shot was on the front of the Toronto Sun. They've figured this out by now."

Meanwhile, Mr. Smitherman's rivals are gearing up their own ad blitzes for the last two weeks of the campaign.

Mr. Ford's radio spots, first aired only on AM640 during Toronto Maple Leafs' games, are now airing on nine radio stations.

His first print ads are slated to run in the Post City magazine and 18 ethnic weeklies between now and election day, according to Fraser MacDonald, the campaign's deputy communications director.

Joe Pantalone is continuing with his cheeky "Small Wonder" ads, while Rocco Rossi's campaign has just wrapped up a series of positive radio ads narrated by Conservative MP and former broadcaster Peter Kent.

Mr. Rossi's controversial mafia-themed ads are no longer available on his website, something he said was always part of his plan for the final weeks of the campaign.

"As someone who's the underdog we needed edgy ads to get people talking, which the first wave did a great job of doing," he said. "And then [we]follow up with what it is that I stand for and my background and my credentials to be the next mayor of Toronto."