The poll by Forum Research Inc. released Wednesday shows voters like mayoral candidate Rocco Rossi’s promise to give them the right to recall – and that support for the idea is widespread across the city and across supporters of all the candidates.

Residents were asked to identify who they’d vote for, or are leaning towards voting for, among the current candidates for the October 25, 2010 Mayoral election. Among decided or leaning voters, 34% chose Rob Ford (up from 26% in June, 2010) compared to 22% (down from 29%) who picked candidate George Smitherman. Candidates Rocco Rossi (15%, up from 10%), Sarah Thompson (14%, down from 17%) and Joe Pantalone (11%, down from 12%) were trailing and 4% of residents selected someone else.

Ladies and gents, we have a race.

For the love of God: the new network hasn’t even broadcast 60 seconds of content, and it’s already generating historically humongous levels of hysteria, histrionics and hyper-ventilating (I love alliterations, guilty as charged, etc.). Get a grip, Maggie!

Among other things, I have never seen a media launch generate so much useful, and free, P.R. Never.

Right about now, I can picture Kory Teneycke grinning, can’t you?

“But where was Smitherman when Walnut Hall, the Georgian rowhouses on Shuter right in his ward, were allowed to fall into disrepair and had to be leveled after a section collapsed? Or for that matter, when One Gould toppled a few months ago, seemingly another victim of owner neglect?” (NOW Magazine, Enzo Di Matteo, Aug. 31)

“I think Rossi’s idea of asking the province for the power to recall any politician who votes against the wishes of their constituents is exactly what is required at City Hall.” (680 News, John Stall, Aug. 31)

“Feldman…likened Rossi to former mayor Mel Lastman, who ‘was able to bring together the left, the centre and the right and have a big mushy middle’…“I think Rocco would have the same ability to get consensus when you have philosophical differences,” Feldman said.” (Toronto Star, David Rider, Aug. 31)

“Rocco Rossi, meanwhile, did what he could to sharpen his outsider message. The additions of Bernie Morton and Warren Kinsella to his campaign seems to have lit a small fire under Rossi, and as usual, he came prepared with a few stats and a packaged retort for media consumption.” (NOW Magazine, Enzo Di Matteo, Aug. 31)

“Green energy — it’s just too expensive, ladies and gentlemen.” (Rob Ford, Greenhouse Debate, Toronto Star, Sept. 1)

That is spread amongst some 560,000 unique visitors, Team Propellerhead tell me.

Suitably impressed comments are of course welcome.

I’m down in Maine with my family this week, and I’ve told Rocco Rossi I want to volunteer on his Toronto mayoralty campaign. He’s super smart, he treats all people with respect – and he’s fiscally conservative and socially progressive. He’s a good man.

Rob Ford is no good on the social issues; George Smitherman is not top-of-mind when it comes to fiscal discipline.

Some early coverage is here and here – but one thing I want to make clear: I will not be running Michael Ignatieff’s war room. Not. I resigned from that months ago.

Otherwise, I’ll take the “controversial” tag. It probably fits.

Now, go Rocco, go!

UPDATE: Apparently some of Rush Ford’s team are upset that I called their guy a “baboon” on Newstalk 1010 this afternoon. I didn’t. I called him a “goof” and a “doofus.” Get it right, okay?

Making a move.

Stay tuned.

Hug yours while you still can.

CIBC PROFIT JUMPS 47 PER CENT

After a grinding, brutal recession – and with many, many families still grappling with hardship and uncertainty – you have to ask yourself: are monkeys running some of the bank P.R. shops?

Prominent bank V.P. Communications, official portrait.