TORONTO

If The Donald had one person who understood the shoes he was standing in Tuesday, it was clearly The Fordman.

Former Toronto mayor Rob Ford heard all the negative comments about Donald Trump’s announced presidential bid.

“A lot of the media were taking shots at him and making it out to be a joke but in the end it will be them who will be surprised,” said the current councillor in a short conversation Wednesday. “They can laugh all they want but Mr. Trump is a very successful man and a very good candidate for president.”

He knows this, Ford said, because he has been through it himself.

“Very few thought I would win the mayor’s race in 2010 and they were wrong,” said Ford, who is currently recovering from cancer surgery.

A lot of so called political experts had to eat their words then and may have to again with Trump in 2016, he said.

“People have said Donald Trump can’t do a lot of things and they underestimated him,” said Ford. “The thing with Mr. Trump is he has the business background but more importantly he connects with people. That is what is most important in politics.”

Ford met Trump during a visit to Toronto to promote The Trump international Hotel and Tower in 2012.

And in the middle of Ford’s well documented personal problems and media spotlight which included an appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel Show, Trump tweeted “who would you rather have negotiating with Iran — President Obama or Toronto Mayor Ford? My money is on Ford.”

Ford said Wednesday he was very impressed with Trump when he spoke with him at a reception later.

“He’s a very nice guy, first of all,” said Ford. “He’s very laid back and low key. He’s also very kind as well as successful. Not many people can become billionaires. That is very difficult to do.”

It does not, however, mean Trump has a lock on the White House.

“It will be a race for the Republican nomination and it will be hard fought against another very good candidate,” Ford said.

That candidate would be Jeb Bush.

“I actually know Jeb better and I think the world of him as well,” said Ford. “I met him through (former Ontario Premier) Mike Harris and have had several visits with him and been out to dinner too. He’s fantastic.”

That Trump has entered the presidential sweepstakes has just, said Ford, made it a better race.

“It’s hard to say who is going to win it but I predict whoever does win the party nomination will be the next president,” said Ford. “They are both very good.”

So who would he choose should be forced to do so?

“Oh boy, that’s a tough one,” said Ford. “I will be listening to both and see who in the end says the right things.”

But Ford hasn’t forgotten that when he was in the middle of his own personal crisis which included crack cocaine, Trump could have piled on him like so many others did but didn’t.

In fact, he backed him publicly.

“I did appreciate that.”

joe.warmington@sunmedia.ca