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But did they cross a line with their impersonations? “Did Ford campaign’s tricks knock Tory out?” the Star

asked. Mr. Tory scoffed at the notion, as you’d expect. The idea that a random phone call would convince a seasoned politician to stay out of the race, or for that matter that a

Star

story about the OxyContin affair — shoot, I’m giggling again — would have sunk a man who seemed to actually have been buoyed in the polls by a DUI conviction, is preposterous. This was no dirtier than politics as usual.

That doesn’t make it right, of course. “I look at this stuff as being part of a much broader malaise infecting the political world right now,” Mr. Tory said last week.

And that’s the interesting thing. Mr. Ford capitalized on disdain for politicians even as his team partook of the tactics that contribute to it — and then they bragged about it. Why would practitioners of political dark arts reveal their magic? Especially when the magic is so garden-variety, and when convincing Mr. Tory not to run — which they probably didn’t even do — was so integral, by their own admission, to their win? “I’ll win you the election, sir, unless Joe Blow runs, in which case we’re screwed,” isn’t exactly what I’d want to hear from my campaign manager.

Clearly, Team Ford is rather pleased with themselves, and I don’t blame them. But partly, too, I suspect they’re blabbing because they know how much uncontrollable events and dumb luck have to do with success and failure in political campaigns. If Rob Ford can win, anyone can, assuming they capture the zeitgeist as well. Better get your name out there when you’re on a high.

But whatever the reason, I’m glad they’re running their mouths. The more ugly behind-the-scenes information we have about politics, the more likely people will be to demand better.

National Post