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\n\t\t\t\t\u2018Deep sadness and shock\u2019: Canadian child dies at resort in Jamaica<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n
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Since the opening days of the election campaign, Ford\u2019s PCs have continued to poll well above the rest but there have been small signs the race could be tightening.<\/p>\n
A delay of at least a month on the threat of U.S. tariffs \u2014 the reason Ford justified his early election call \u2014 has taken Donald Trump off the table as a major issue, turning the race into a more traditional campaign.<\/p>\n
The Progressive Conservatives have pivoted from focusing almost exclusively on tariffs and job protection to talk of highway tolls, affordability and massive new infrastructure projects. The NDP and the Liberals are pushing health care, housing and trying to make the election a question of Ford\u2019s own record.<\/p>\n
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It\u2019s not clear if the latter is working.<\/p>\n
\u201cVoters are definitely upset \u2014 but they\u2019re upset at Trump and not Ford,\u201d Besco said, noted that a lack of anger at the party that governed last also often drives low turnout.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIn a way, not voting is a vote for the status quo. Turnout tends to be higher when the incumbent loses because people are voting because they want to get rid of the incumbent. So, it\u2019s not so much that it benefits the incumbent it\u2019s that turnout is low because people are satisfied with the incumbent.\u201d<\/p>\n
With just under three weeks remaining in Ontario\u2019s winter election campaign, time remains for the race to shift and voter interest to increase as well, Besco added.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also likely that Ford\u2019s poll numbers are likely to moe back to more normal ranges.\u00a0 \u201cIt will look pretty different,\u201d Besco said. \u201cIf they fall down to a more normal level \u2014 I don\u2019t know if they\u2019ll win or lose \u2014 but it\u2019ll be much more competitive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elections Ontario estimates roughly 10.8 million people are eligible to vote in the current election, which is scheduled to take place on Feb. 27.<\/p>\n
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