‘Grassroots’ campaign for Doug Ford as PC leader launched

TORONTO –An apparent “grassroots” campaign is looking to draft Doug Ford to run for the leader of the Progressive Conservative party.

The group sent an email to Toronto media, launched a Twitter account, Facebook group and website Tuesday.

It’s not clear who launched the campaign; none of the three online portals offer any contact information or info about who is behind the website.

Ford has not said whether he will run to replace Tim Hudak as leader of the PC party but has repeatedly hinted at the idea of provincial politics, including saying the conservative party needed an “enema from top to bottom.”

A recent poll by Forum Research suggests he has a chance of winning despite not yet announcing his bid. The poll surveyed 1,104 people across Ontario and found he’s favoured second among conservative voters with 24 per cent support.

Christine Elliott, the MPP for Whitby-Oshawa, is the frontrunner according to the poll with 34 per cent support among PC voters.