Ontario Premier Doug Ford dismissed recent polling suggesting a decline in his popularity during a media briefing on Tuesday [1].
The pushback comes as some political observers suggest the Premier's standing with voters is slipping, creating potential vulnerability for his administration.
Ford said that the poll numbers do not accurately reflect his standing with the public [1]. He specifically rejected comparisons between his own political trajectory and that of the Prime Minister [2].
"I'm sure the heck not Justin Trudeau," Ford said [2].
The Premier maintained that his government remains strong despite the data. He suggested that the current level of support would lead to a decisive victory if an election were called immediately [3].
"If the election was held today, we wouldn't just form a majority, we would form another … supermajority," Ford said [3].
Ford has three years remaining in his current mandate [4]. He continued to distance himself from the federal leader, stating, "I'm no Justin Trudeau" [5].
Throughout the briefing, Ford focused on the disconnect between professional polling and the sentiment he perceives on the ground. He said that the figures do not indicate a trend of sinking popularity [5].
“"I'm sure the heck not Justin Trudeau."”
By explicitly contrasting himself with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ford is attempting to insulate his brand from the federal Liberal Party's current unpopularity. His insistence on a potential 'supermajority' serves to project strength to both his base and internal party critics at a time when some conservatives are reportedly beginning contingency planning.
