TORONTO

Mayor Rob Ford said dropping out of the election and passing the torch to his brother Doug was his only move.

From his hospital bed, an ailing Mayor Ford said while “shocked” and “devastated”, his health has forced him from the election race and there was no other option.

“It’s not good,” he said of the early diagnosis. “I guess the good Lord wants me somewhere else.”

He sounded tired and demoralized.

His voice choked up and cracking, the mayor, from inside Mount Sinai Hospital, said the situation is “out of my hands.”

Ford said he’s glad his councillor brother and campaign manager has decided to seamlessly step in and keep the Ford Nation dream alive.

“I told him he didn’t have to do it,” the mayor said. “But I absolutely support the decision that he do it. Absolutely.”

Rob Ford said the reality is he just can’t go on.

“I don’t have a choice,” he said. “It’s just the way it goes.”

The good news is at least he won’t have to endure being piled on any more. But he admitted he was pretty excited about the Oct. 27 election.

Ford said he didn’t want to let his supporters down and hopes they understand.

“Those are the cards that I have been dealt,” he said, adding he knows he’s not the only one to face sickness.

The discussion with his brother and the rest of the family yesterday to withdraw his name from the mayoral ballot and shift to councillor ballot for his old Ward 2 was a “difficult decision” but “what else could I do?”

Mayor Ford said it just didn’t seem possible to continue but the idea of not having Ford Nation represented in the mayoral election was not an option.

“It’s better that Doug is going to be on there and I will do my best to support him.”

As he awaits the results from the tests on a tumour found in his abdomen, Ford said he is prepping himself for an upcoming surgery and battle that could see him on his back for weeks.

“I fight every day,” he said. “I never quit.”

But, he said, to be fair to Torontonians, he could not handle the rigours of the remaining mayoral debates or the physical demands that will be needed of a mayor should he be re-elected.

He said he believes he will eventually be able to be strong enough to get back to serve the people in Ward 2.

“I still want to help people,” he said.

Ford also said he wanted to thank the staff at both Mount Sinai and Humber Memorial Hospitals and that “they have treated me great.”

And he asked that I thank all of the citizens who have sent their well wishes.

“I love the city,” he said.

His focus now is on his health and his family.

“They are taking it tough,” he said.

But he has assured his wife and kids he will do his best to beat his health challenges and focus on his recovery.

“I am going to fight this,” he said. “I promise you that.”