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Global Kingdom Ministries is a cavernous building in the heart of Scarborough with booming speakers well versed in spreading the message of believers.

But if you stood there Tuesday evening, among the faithful of a political kind, you would have had a hard time hearing above the roar of an electric crowd.

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The first mayoral debate to include Rob Ford since his rocky return from rehab was raucous itself, with shouting matches outside between critics and supporters of the incumbent, a smattering of police officers to keep the peace, and insults hurled across the stage.

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It began, minutes after 7 p.m., with Olivia Chow, John Tory, Karen Stintz and David Soknacki waiting behind their lecterns. “We want Ford!” chanted part of the crowd, as he took the fifth and final spot.

Hosted by the Canadian Tamil Congress and moderated by the National Post‘s Chris Selley, candidates fielded questions about transit, jobs, councillor expenses, and budget cuts. It quickly became heated, with Olivia Chow attacking Mr. Ford for embarrassing the city and calling on the crowd to fire him on election day, which is October 27.