TORONTO

There appears to be no cracking Mayor Rob Ford's popularity.

A new Forum Research poll provided exclusively to Toronto Sun found Ford's approval rating remains above 40% despite the ongoing crack cocaine scandal.

In the last few weeks, Ford has admitted he has smoked crack, bought illegal drugs after being elected mayor, "might have" driven drunk, been "hammered" in public, partied in the mayor's office and dropped the word "p----" in a press conference.

But a poll conducted Wednesday with 1,049 Toronto residents found 42% approve of the job he is doing while 58% disapprove.

The 42% approval rating is virtually unchanged from a poll on Nov. 6 that pegged his approval rating at 44%.

Forum Research president Lorne Bozinoff said the poll shows "Ford Nation" -- the mayor's diehard supporters -- appear to be sticking with him despite the troubles.

"They're hanging tough with him -- it is impressive, I have to admit," Bozinoff told Toronto Sun on Thursday.

"There is your personal life and all the crazy stuff that you do -- and for sure he's got some crazy things there -- and then there is what you deliver on your job."

Around 33% say they'll vote for the embattled mayor in the 2014 election and 33% think he is "good for Toronto," but 60% of those polled want Ford to resign now, including 28% of those who voted for him in the last election.

"He's definitely a polarizing person, so you either love him or you hate him," Bozinoff said. "It is easy for the 50% who didn't vote for him last time to say you should resign."

Around 60% of those polled agree with city council's decision to strip Ford of most of his powers along with half his staff and a portion of his office budget. About 34% disapproved of that decision and 5% had no answer.

Most of Ford's powers were transferred to deputy mayor Norm Kelly -- the poll found he had an approval rating of 65%.

"This is called the honeymoon phase," Bozinoff said.

Councillor Doug Ford -- the mayor's brother and loudest defender during the scandal -- had a lower approval rating than the mayor with only around 36% of those polled saying they approve of the job he is doing.

Although Mayor Ford denies he is an addict or an alcoholic, the number of people who believe he has a substance abuse problem has grown from 54% two weeks ago to 69% now. A large majority (64%) think Ford should take time off to deal with that problem.

The poll also found that if Ford went to rehab before the next election around 34% would vote for him -- that's only a 1% increase of those who said they'll vote for him regardless in 2014.

"I don't think the mayor is dead politically," Bozinoff said. "Some people might find it hard to believe. As crazy as it is he's got that record and somehow, despite all of his private doings, he was able to get all this stuff done."

The poll was an interactive voice response telephone survey of 1,049 Toronto residents. Forum considers the results accurate +/-3%, 19 times out of 20.

BY THE NUMBERS

Highlights of the latest Forum Research poll on Mayor Rob Ford:

42% - Mayor Rob Ford's approval rating

35% - Think Rob Ford is "good for Toronto"

33% - Would vote for Rob Ford in the 2014 election

69% - Think Rob Ford has a substance abuse problem

19% - Would support Rob Ford for prime minister

65% - Deputy mayor Norm Kelly's approval rating

60% - Agree with the decision to strip Ford of his powers

60% - Want Mayor Rob Ford to resign

28% - Of Ford voters polled want the mayor to resign

WHAT ARE THEY SMOKING?

According to a new Forum Research poll, almost 20% of Toronto residents say they'd be in support of Rob Ford becoming prime minister.

In an interview with Fox News Network last Sunday, Ford -- who has made worldwide headlines after admitting to smoking crack cocaine -- repeated his hope to one day be PM.

"Politics is in my blood. I love money, I love business, I love selling labels and I love football. But politics is the only way you can, one on one, help people out."

The poll asked, "Would you vote for Rob Ford for Prime Minister of Canada or not?" Around 19% of those Toronto residents polled said yes, 75% said no and 5% didn't have an answer.

Ford supporters were split on the question — 45% said they would not support the mayor for the country's highest office while 43% said they would.

Forum president Lorne Bozinoff said Ford was "a long way off" from winning the country's highest office.

He acknowledged that you don't vote directly for the prime minister in Canada.

"I don't think any of the parties would want to go near him anyway," Bozinoff said.

The poll was an interactive voice response telephone survey of 1,049 Toronto residents on Wednesday. Forum considers the results accurate plus or minus 3%, 19 times out of 20.