Meh. It is a lot simpler than that. I don’t think it was by design, but Ford took advantage of the same situation as the Federal politics.
The Conservatives have basically been able to win Federally because the right united the Reform/Alliance with the Progressive Conservatives, under the Conservative Party. The Left on the other had split between Liberals and NDP, which enabled the Conservatives to win enough to lead.
In Toronto, there were three major candidates for Mayor. Ford on the right, and two on the left. The left split the vote, and Ford won. How he even got that many votes is also simple. The City of Toronto amalgamated some time ago into the Greater Toronto Area or GTA. Most of the people and votes (and money) live in the suburbs. The ONLY thing they really care about is Taxes and Property values, that is it. They could care less about the City itself or the core, and will elect anything that gives them that, and really can smoke as much crack as they like and act like a buffoon so long as they deliver lower taxes. The Ford family is also rich, and also connected already to the City government.
Anyway it is that simple, really given the situation, it would have been very hard for him to actually lose. However I expect with the recent news, he will lose some following (but not much, as I said they could care less other than their suburban taxes), however more importantly, the left will probably rally around former NDP Olivia Chow, and I have no doubt she will win. She will to say the least be a VERY different mayor of Toronto, and I dare say someone who will likely do a very good job.
