From hospital, Ford urges support for brother’s campaign

TORONTO — Just hours before he begins aggressive chemotherapy for a rare and difficult-to-beat cancer, a rough-sounding Toronto Mayor Rob Ford released an audio statement from his hospital room Thursday urging people to vote for his brother for mayor.

Ford said he soon would start chemotherapy to treat the cancer that forced him to do what months of scandals over drug and alcohol abuse could not — drop his bid for re-election.

His doctor announced Wednesday that Ford has a malignant liposarcoma.

Ford, who has been hospitalized for more than a week with a tumor in his abdomen, announced Friday that he was pulling out of the Oct. 27 race and his brother Doug, a city councilor, would run in his place.

Ford vowed to beat the cancer and said “Toronto needs Doug Ford as mayor”

“I’m encouraging my brother to jump into this race, wholeheartedly, right now,” said Ford, his voice sounding hoarse in the three-minute statement. “You, the people of Toronto, have been with me since Day One. Now I ask you to throw your support behind Doug.”

Ford thanked the public for the support and said he would return strong for his family and his city.

“With the love and support of my family, my friends, and the people of Toronto — I will beat this,” he said.

Rob Ford, who was elected mayor in 2010, is still running for his old city council seat representing a district in his home suburb of Etobicoke, where he gained a faithful following for his brash everyman style and conservative fiscal policies.

Doug Ford, who has been his brother’s most aggressive defender, is expected to face an uphill battle against two other major candidates in the mayoral election. He hasn’t started campaigning since he announced he was entering the race but said outside the hospital on Thursday that his campaign will start today.

“What makes Rob feel better is me out there campaigning,” Doug Ford said.