By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday September 16, 2014
Rob and Doug Ford’s symbiotic relationship and ideological mission behind passing of the baton in election
In a Mount Sinai hospital room in downtown Toronto late Friday afternoon, Doug Ford stood beside his stricken brother, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, with their mother, Diane, other family members and their lawyer and confidante Dennis Morris for a “bittersweet” passing of the baton.
For Rob Ford, who has withdrawn from his controversial and closely scrutinized bid for re-election Friday in a shock move after hospitalization for an abdominal tumour, it was hard to submit to the reality of quitting, said Mr. Morris.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Mr. Morris said as he drove away from the hospital visit. “He’s chomping at the bit. His mind says go but his body says no… He is quite convinced he would have won the election.”
Doug Ford — stepping in and registering as mayoral candidate in Rob’s stead on the last day for candidates to register for the Oct. 27 municipal election — showed “tremendously mixed emotions,” Mr. Morris said.
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“He is very heartbroken that he has to take over for the mayor but on the other hand he’s very doggedly determined to succeed,” he said.
“They both have the same platform… They share the same views in terms of political aim — they want to save money for the taxpayers and basically, that’s the end aim they have.”
It all speaks to the symbiotic relationship Doug Ford has with his brother Rob and to the deep-seated notion of the brothers being on an ideological mission.
As Mr. Morris put it, “they are almost joined at the hip in some way. They are very close in every way humanly possible.”
While Rob is often seen as the affable but problem-plagued personality, Doug is perceived as the tougher, sober sibling who became his younger brother’s advocate, protector, spokesman and surrogate. (Source: Toronto Star)
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