Mayor John Tory’s main opponent Jennifer Keesmaat gained a slight surge in support from Toronto voters this past month, but it’s not enough to put her close to the lead, according a new poll.

Thirty-five per cent of respondents said they would support Keesmaat if an election were held Aug. 28 (a day after the Forum Research survey was conducted), up from 30 per cent on July 27.

Tory’s support dropped to 65 per cent from 70, but his lead remains substantial, said Lorne Bozinoff, Forum Research president.

“Keesmaat has narrowed the gap on Tory, but his lead is so substantial she needs more gains, and quickly to have any hope at the mayor’s chair,” Bozinoff said.

Tory’s high approval rating did not change from July, with 58 per cent of respondents approving of his performance as mayor. Twenty-four per cent said they disapprove of Tory, down from 26 per cent in July.

“But with his approval still higher than half that promises to be a difficult challenge for (Keesmaat),” Bozinoff said.

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Respondents most likely to say they support Tory are 55 to 64 years old and live in North York or Etobicoke. Those most likely to say they support Keesmaat are 35 to 44 years old and live in East York or Scarborough.

Forum Research surveyed 1,242 randomly selected Toronto voters who answered the phone Monday, days before Keesmaat announced her transit plan. On Thursday, she promised to accelerate the relief line subway and not oppose the construction of the controversial three-stop Scarborough subway extension.

Tory’s campaign criticized Keesmaat’s plan for being the same as the network already championed by the mayor and city council.

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Keesmaat, the city’s former chief planner, jumped into the race just before the registration deadline July 27, and the day after the Star revealed Premier Doug Ford’s plan to cut Toronto’s wards to 25 from 47.

The poll results have a margin of error of plus or minus 3 per cent, 19 times out of 20. They are not necessarily predictive of future outcomes, but rather capture opinion at one point in time.

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