NDP Leader Jack Layton speaks during a news conference in Ottawa on July 6, 2010.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone scored a high-profile, if unsurprising, endorsement on Wednesday from federal NDP leader Jack Layton.
"To me, there's only one choice in terms of the direction I'd like to see the city go and I think so many people would like to see the city go, and that is Joe Pantalone," Mr. Layton said. "And that's why I'm here to support him."
Mr. Layton praised the 30-year veteran of Toronto city council for his work on BMO field, Exhibition Place and as the city's tree advocate.
Mr. Layton's formal declaration of support comes after a new Ipsos-Reid poll found Mr. Pantalone is trailing badly with the support of only 9 per cent of decided voters. The telephone poll of 400 Torontonians conducted Aug. 20 to 22 found Etobicoke Councillor Rob Ford has opened up an 11-point lead over second-place contender George Smitherman.
The poll also revealed that Mr. Pantalone's political bedfellow, Mayor David Miller, would be in the lead if he were on the ballot. Mr. Miller has said repeatedly that he won't parachute into the race before the Sept. 10 cut-off date, but that hasn't stopped some on the left from begging him to reconsider.
Without referring to his boss, Mr. Pantalone said the Layton endorsement proves he's the only true progressive in the race.
"Jack Layton's endorsement means that there's no illusion of some make-believe progressive candidates," Mr. Pantalone said. "There's only one progressive candidate in this race for mayor and that's Joe Pantalone."
Mr. Layton insisted the federal NDP has no intention of following the provincial Liberals' lead and wading into the municipal campaign. Dalton McGuinty's Liberals have taken flak this week for the Smitherman campaign's decision to mail pamphlets touting the former deputy premier's accomplishments at Queen's Park to 75,000 identified Liberal voters.
Jack isn't the first Layton to endorse Mr. Pantalone for mayor. Mike Layton, the NDP leader's son, who is running to replace Mr. Pantalone in Ward 19 Trinity-Spadina, endorsed Mr. Pantalone back in May. Mr. Pantalone pledged his support for the younger Layton in return.