Doug Ford, brother of late Toronto mayor Rob Ford, will hold a rally to kick off his effort to helm a party reeling from allegations that have left it without a leader just months before a provincial election. Political observers say the combination of name recognition, a well-defined message and open disdain for an unpopular government mean Ford could mount a credible challenge for the Tory leadership. “Doug Ford can’t be underestimated in this race,” said Rob Leone, a former Progressive Conservative member of the Ontario legislature and current political science professor at Western University. “The advantage of having a defined brand is it allows people to identify with that brand,” he said. Those themes figure prominently in Ford’s political rhetoric.

Source: thestar February 03, 2018 15:11 UTC