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Ford seems to have been one of the most popular guests at the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee Action Party.

Scores of photos of the mayor and guests appeared online in the hours after the event — all of which were more flattering than the one that emerged from the 2013 party, where he was accused of groping former mayoral candidate Sarah Thomson.

Thomson claimed that Ford grabbed her buttocks while taking a photo. She also alleged the mayor suggested she should have been in Florida with him when his wife was not. Ford’s camp has always denied the allegations. Then-chief of staff Mark Towhey claimed the Mayor had not drank anything that night except “three or four glasses of water.”

“His electoral strategy is to try to leverage his star power, notorious though it may be, into votes,” said councillor Joe Mihevc, who was also at the event Thursday. “… He’s playing to his strength.”

The lines for photos aren’t necessarily a sign of support, Mihevc said. “The only way I can understand that is: who wouldn’t want a picture of yourself and Al Capone, or Bonnie and Clyde?”

Councillor Adam Vaughan struck a similar note: “People don’t take pictures of planes that land. They take pictures of planes that crash.”

The long lines for cellphone snaps mirrored Ford’s other recent campaign stops, including at a Toronto night club.

Mayor Ford thanked the organizers of the CJPAC event.

“I support the Jewish community 100%. I go to their parties every year and they’re very gracious, and I want to thank them for their support in the past and their ongoing support in the election coming up.” He declined to speculate on if the lineups of people seeking to take their picture with him was a reflection of their support, or his notoriety. “I have no idea. You know what, we’ll see on October 27. Our campaign is going very very well.”