Chow Widens Lead Over Bradford in New Toronto Mayoral Poll

A new Liaison Strategies poll shows Olivia Chow widening her lead over Brad Bradford in Toronto’s mayoral race — a development that may be concerning for voters hoping to see a change in direction at City Hall.
Among decided and leaning voters:
Olivia Chow — 49% Brad Bradford — 38% Chris Alexander — 11% Other — 3%
That puts Chow 11 points ahead of Bradford, up from a seven-point lead in Liaison’s Aug. 7 poll.
There are still reasons the race could tighten. When undecided voters are included, 19% remain undecided, leaving a significant bloc still up for grabs ahead of the Oct. 26 election.
Bradford also has some notable areas of strength. He leads Chow 47% to 39% among men and has a commanding 56% to 34% advantage in Etobicoke among decided and leaning voters.
Still, the latest numbers will be concerning for those who believe Toronto needs a different approach on issues such as taxes, traffic, public safety and the overall direction of City Hall. Rather than narrowing the gap, Bradford has lost ground in this latest snapshot of the race.
With more than two months remaining, however, nearly one in five voters has yet to make up their mind — meaning this race is far from over.
Toronto votes Oct. 26.